Eutrochium (Eupatorium) fistulosum (Hollow Joe Pye Weed) Unity Grown

Eutrochium fistulosum, commonly known as hollow Joe Pye weed and previously referred to as Eupatorium fistulosum, is a tall, upright, herbaceous perennial that can be found in a variety of moist locations with anywhere from full sun to partial shade. Hollow Joe Pye prefers rich, moist to wet soil, where it can reach towering heights of 6-9' tall, but it can also tolerate gravel and sandy soils when provided with enough moisture.

Blooming from mid summer into the fall, Eutrochium fistulosum produces a dense, cloud-like flower cluster in shades of lavender purple atop its large, hollow stems. Commonly used as a native alternative for the occasionally invasive butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), hollow Joe Pye weed is an excellent attraction and host for various pollinators. The tall plants' large flowering domes provides an easily found surface for attracting a variety of pollinators, including the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui), and plays host to the larvae of several moth and butterfly species like the clymene tiger moth (Haploa clymene). In addition to insects, hollow Joe Pye attracts a number of songbirds with its fall seeds, and works excellently for erosion control in rain gardens, swales, and pond edges.