Eupatorium maculatum 'Gateway' (Joe Pye Weed)

Eupatorium maculatum, syn. Eutrochium maculatum 'Gateway,' commonly called spotted Joe Pye weed, is typically a large, upright native wildflower that is a favorite food source of a number of butterfly species; the 'Gateway' cultivar is notable for only reaching heights of 4-6' tall as opposed to the parent species height of 4-10'! From mid to late summer into the fall, 'Gateway' produces large clusters of bright purple-pink flowers atop large central stems. 

Eutrochium maculatum thrives in moist to wet, sandy loam soils with some organic nutrient content, which makes it ideal for planting in perpetually damp settings such as drainage areas, rain gardens, along streambanks, and on pond edges. Although individual plants can become rather large, they can also form small colonies, but typically don't spread further than a few feet at a time.