One consolation of the end of summer is always the arrival of Joe-Pye Weed, a generous, floriferous, tall garden treasure native to the eastern U.S. and treasured by all who know its effortless beauty and eagerness to naturalize. The 5- to 7-foot stalks, which resemble those of lilies, are topped with large, curving flowerheads composed of many dozens of small blooms, in every shade of purple from lilac to deep royal. Despite the bushy habit of the plant and the dense blooms, the effect is airy and soft.
Joe-Pye Weed blooms the first year if the seed is sown early enough and will naturalize freely to increase its glorious show year after year. It is superb for mixed beds and even borders, but you may want to plant it in a setting where it can spread. The cut flowers are excellent in the vase, too.
Asking only full sun and normally to poorly fertile soil, Eupatorium grows easily and flourishes in most settings. Expect this well-branched, striking plant to reach 2 to 4 feet wide. Trouble-free beauty from an American native.
