Three Nerved Joe Pye Weed is a compact member of the Joe Pye clan with large clusters of tiny purple-pink flowers that seduce bees and butterflies.

• Pollinator favorite
• Easy to grow
• Can grow in wet soil

Details

• 5 to 6 ft. tall and wide
• Durable perennial
• Plants can sometimes be late to emerge from dormancy in the spring
• Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5, 6, 7, and 8

Flowering period

Flowering starts late August in central North Carolina and lasts about four weeks.

How to grow

Plenty of sun keeps plants compact, though it will tolerate growing in partial shade. Joe Pye Weed prefers rich, moist soil to promote strong growth, but is surprisingly adaptable.

Care and maintenance

Cut old flowering stems to ground level any time through the winter, and water during extended droughts to keep plants looking lush and green.

Where to plant

Flower beds, at the edges of ponds, and in rain gardens.

When to plant

It can be planted throughout the year. If planting in late spring through summer pay special attention to keeping plants well-watered until they get established.

When will my plant flower?

Plants purchased and planted before June will flower in late summer, if planted in a well-prepared site and kept watered.

Spacing

When planting in groups, space plants between 4 and 6 feet apart.

Native habitat and range

Swamps and roadside ditches from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Most commonly found in the coastal plain region.

Source and origin

Plants are grown from seeds collected at the edge of a swamp in Pender County, North Carolina.