Description
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum), also known as Queen of the Meadow, is a robust, herbaceous perennial native to much of the United States and Canada. It typically grows between 4 to 6 feet tall and spreads 3 to 4 feet wide. The plant features sturdy, unbranched stems that are often purple or purple-spotted, adorned with whorled, lance-shaped leaves. From mid-July to late September, it produces large, flat-topped clusters of small, dusky pink to mauve, fragrant flowers, each composed of numerous tiny, tubular florets.
Thriving in full sun to partial shade, Spotted Joe-Pye Weed prefers moist to wet soils and is commonly found in marshes, fens, swamps, and along stream banks. Its adaptability to various soil types makes it suitable for rain gardens, naturalized areas, and pollinator-friendly landscapes. The plant's tall stature and showy blooms add architectural interest to garden settings.
Ecologically, Eutrochium maculatum plays a significant role in supporting wildlife. Its nectar-rich flowers attract a diverse array of pollinators, including bees, butterflies such as tiger swallowtails, monarchs, skippers, and azures, as well as moths, bee flies, honeybees, bumblebees, long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Additionally, it serves as a larval host plant for several moth species, including the Clymene moth (Haploa clymene), the eupatorium borer moth (Carmenta bassiformis), the ruby tiger moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa), and the three-lined flower moth (Schinia trifascia). After the flowering season, its seeds provide a food source for birds such as swamp sparrows.
