Ontario Native
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Flower colour
Dusty pink to mauve-purple (in large dome-shaped clusters)
Bloom time
Mid to early fall
Height
48–84"
Light
Full sun to part shade
Moisture
Average to wet (thrives in boggy spaces, riverbanks, and rain gardens, though it can adapt to average, organic garden soil provided it does not completely dry out.)
Native to Ontario
Yes
Ecological benefit
Exceptional nectar source for butterflies (especially monarchs), bees, and other pollinators. The foliage hosts nearly three dozen species of moths and butterflies. It is a critical host plant for the caterpillars of the Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa), Clymene Moth, and the Blazing Star Borer Moth.
Notes
Native to wetlands, meadows, and stream edges across eastern North America. Sturdy upright stems often have purple spotting (hence the name). Can form impressive clumps over time but is not aggressively spreading. Excellent for rain gardens and low areas with poor drainage. Its thick, fibrous root system anchors exceptionally well in wet soils, preventing erosion along fragile shorelines, riverbanks, and marshy habitats.