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Snow covered branches
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Eutrochium dubium (Three-nerved (Coastal Plain) Joe-pye-weed)

Eutrochium dubium (Eastern or Coastal Joe Pye Weed) leaves
Eutrochium dubium (Eastern or Coastal Joe Pye Weed) flower buds in July. Photo by Elaine L. Mills, 2018-07-05, private garden, Arlington, Virginia.
Eutrochium dubium (Eastern or Coastal Joe Pye Weed) in July. Photo by Elaine L. Mills, 2015-07-26, private garden, Arlington, Virginia.
Two-spotted bumble bee on Eutrochium dubium (Eastern or Coastal Joe Pye Weed)
Eutrochium dubium (Three-nerved or Coastal Plain Joe-pye-weed) buds and flowers in August.
Beneficial insects overwinter in the stout stems of Joe Pye weed.
Detail of seed heads of Eutrochium dubium (Eastern or Coastal Joe Pye Weed) Photo by Elaine L. Mills, 2017-09-28, private garden, Arlington, Virginia.
Eutrochium dubium (Eastern or Coastal Joe Pye Weed)
Eutrochium dubium (Eastern or Coastal Joe Pye Weed) seed heads in snow

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Eutrochium dubium Three-nerved (Coastal Plain) Joe-pye-weed As reflected in one of its common names, this shorter Joe-pye-weed (formerly Eupatorium dubium) is native* to the Coastal Plain and can be found in eastern swamps, shores, and wet meadows. Its beautiful pink-headed stems wave in the summer breeze and provide landing platforms attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators. Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Perennial Flowers En Masse and with Pollinator,** Fruit Height: 2–5 feet Spread: 2–4 feet Bloom Color: Pale pink to dark purple Characteristics Herbaceous perennial with upright, unbranched solid purple to purple-speckled stems Ovate, toothed, green leaves in whorls of 3–4 Tiny discoid, composite flowers in dome-shaped, corymbiform arrays, 4- to 7-inches across, bloom July to October Cypselae with 25–50 barbellate, bristled pappi Spreads by self-seeding Attributes Tolerates clay soil, wet soil, and salt No serious pests or diseases; deer rarely damage Popular cultivar ‘Little Joe’ is a stronger performer as far as flower production compared to the species; both the species and this cultivar have excellent resistance to powdery mildew Attracts bees and butterflies to flowers and birds to seeds; larval host to ~2 lepidopterans Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for Soil Requirements: Humus-rich, well-drained Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Bush Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade Cleome hasslerana - Spider Flower (annual) Water Requirements: Moist, Wet Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife Cut plants to ground in late winter Lythrum virgatum - European wand Loosestrife Use in borders, meadows, and naturalized areas and in cottage, native plant, or rain gardens *It is native to DC and common in DE. It occurs mostly in MD’s Coastal Plain and in extreme southeast PA. It is frequent in VA’s Coastal Plain, and in NoVA is reported only in Fairfax County. **Bombus bimaculatus, two-spotted bumble bee. Hardiness: USDA Zones 3a–9b developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Elaine Mills, private residence, Arlington, VA and by Mary Free (bee), Glencarlyn Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
 for the Mid-Atlantic

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Eutrochium dubium (Three-nerved (Coastal Plain) Joe-pye-weed)

As reflected in one of its common names, this shorter Joe-pye-weed (formerly Eupatorium dubium) is native* to the Coastal Plain and can be found in eastern swamps, shores, and wet meadows. Its beautiful pink-headed stems wave in the summer breeze and provide landing platforms attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators.

*It is native to DC and common in DE. It occurs mostly in MD’s Coastal Plain and in extreme southeast PA. It is frequent in VA’s Coastal Plain, and in NoVA is reported only in Fairfax County.You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.

Video © Mary Free
Flowers like Eutrochium dubium that attract numerous pollinators also may attract predators like the European hornet. When this large insect feeds on pests like grasshoppers, caterpillars, and yellow jackets, it is considered beneficial. But when it damages trees or crops or builds its nest in areas frequented by people, it may be considered a hazard. Watch this video–not intended for the squeamish–to discover what insects fall victim to this predator in the Library Garden. Learn more about Pollinators.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets