Plant Profile

Joe Pye weed

This towering native perennial blooms well into fall, bringing the season’s last butterflies to your yard. Bees love the flowers, too! Joe Pye weed does well in wet soil, so plant it in a rain garden or soggy corner. Once the flowers fade, seed heads offer texture and interest to a winter garden. Attracts: Light needs: Sun or part shade. Size: 5 to 7 feet tall. Grown for: Showy pink blooms that smell like vanilla (use them for indoor bouquets).

Foliage: Lance-shaped dark green leaves. Cultivars to try: Little Joe and Phantom reach 4 feet tall. For your smaller spaces, Baby Joe stays under 3 feet tall.