joe pye weed
Eutrochium Raf.
A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.
Joe-Pye weeds are herbaceous perennials whose upright stems carry broad tiers of foliage beneath branching flower clusters. Their botanical name Eutrochium refers to the wheel-like arrangement of the leaves, a useful first clue when meeting this group. Flora of North America: Eutrochium
Botanical name
Kew accepts Eutrochium Raf. as a genus in Asteraceae, with five accepted species; the stored record identifies the genus rather than a particular species. Kew Plants of the World Online: Eutrochium Raf.
Recognizing the plant
Leaves usually grow in whorls of three to seven and have toothed margins. The numerous small heads contain only tubular disk florets, generally pinkish or purplish, without the petal-like rays of many daisies. The heads gather into flat or rounded clusters. The small, ribbed fruits carry a persistent tuft of fine bristles. Flora of North America: Eutrochium
Seasonality across the genus
Missouri, United States
In Missouri, hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium fistulosum), one member of this genus, produces its fragrant mauve-pink flower clusters from midsummer into autumn. Missouri Department of Conservation: Joe-Pye Weeds
Native range
The genus is native to Canada and the United States. Its combined range crosses much of the continent, from western provinces and states to the Atlantic region; individual species occupy only parts of that larger distribution. Kew Plants of the World Online: Eutrochium Raf.
Ecological relationships
Missouri’s Joe-Pye weeds draw butterflies, bees, wasps, flies and beetles to their flowers, creating busy gathering places for a varied community of insects. Missouri Department of Conservation: Joe-Pye Weeds
Joe-Pye weeds are food plants for caterpillars of the three-lined flower moth and common eupithecia, as documented by Missouri’s conservation department. Missouri Department of Conservation: Joe-Pye Weeds
Botanical sources
- Kew Plants of the World Online: Eutrochium Raf.
- Flora of North America: Eutrochium
- Missouri Department of Conservation: Joe-Pye Weeds
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.