Late Season Nectar Flower for Pollinators
Eutrochium maculatum: Spotted Joe pye weed, Spotted trumpetweed

Plant Specs:
- Perennial: USDA hardiness zones 3-8 (lows -31 °C or -24 °F)
- Native region for spotted joe pye weed
- Full sun to part shade
- Average water needs; do not over water
- Height 2 to 10 feet
- ‘Gateway’ cultivar height: 4 to 6 feet (ours eclipsed 8 ft in Minnesota)
- Spacing: 4 to 6 ft
- Flowers: shades of pink
- Blooms mid to late summer

Plant Propagation:
- Sow seeds directly in fall
- Start seeds indoors before final frost
- Sow seeds directly after final frost
- Divide rootball in autumn or spring
- Winter sowing

Pros:
- Covered with small pollinators and butterflies every summer
- Towering plant allows easy viewing of butterflies
- Monarch migration plant for northern regions
- easy care plant in consistently moist soils
- No serious pest issues

Cons:
- Past its prime during the monarch migration
- Small pollinators sometimes take over blooms from the butterflies- but little ‘flies’ gotta eat too!
- Prolific seeder in wet conditions
- Some have reported issues with powdery mildew
Spotted Joe Pye Growing Tips:

- Plant in area with moist soil or leaves tend to wilt or scorch
- Eutrochium can be planted/divided in spring or fall
- Even though it’s large, transplants pretty easily
- Attract more pollinators by growing in full sun
- Cut- once the flowers turn brown, cut them off and discard to avoid heavy seeding

Pollinator Plus:

Besides monarchs, spotted joe pye weed is popular with bumble bees, red admirals, red spotted purples, skippers, tiger swallowtails, variegated fritillaries, and many other small pollinators!
Please comment below if you know of other pollinator that frequently visit Spotted Joe Pye!
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