About Eutrochium maculatum (L.) E.E.Lamont
Eutrochium maculatum, commonly called spotted Joe Pye weed, is a North American flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is widely distributed across a large portion of the United States and Canada, and it is the only species in the genus Eutrochium that occurs west of the Great Plains. This herbaceous perennial plant can sometimes grow up to 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall. Its stems may be entirely purple, or green with purple spots. A single plant can produce many rose-purple flower heads in late summer; each flower head holds 8 to 22 disc flowers and has no ray flowers. Its specific epithet maculatum, which means spotted, refers to the purple spots on the plant's stem. Spotted Joe Pye weed grows well in marshes, rich fens, and swamps. It also thrives in human-created moist open areas including ditches, seepage areas, and wet fields. Above all other conditions, this plant flourishes in open, non-shaded wetland habitats that have abundant moisture. It acts as a larval host plant for the Clymene moth, eupatorium borer moth, ruby tiger moth, and three-lined flower moth. It also attracts butterflies and honeybees.
