During August and September, it will be easy to spot Joe-Pye Weed along roadsides and woodland edges. I wondered how it got its name, so I looked it up and the answer follows.

The Joe-Pye Weed that is common around here is Eupatorium fistulosum, and has another nice name as well, Queen of the Meadow. It is a tall, slim plant 5-10 feet in height, with whorls of dark green, spear shaped leaves along the stem. What will catch your eye is the dome-shaped cluster of dull pink flowers that bloom from July into October. It is quite common in our area and easy to spot even from a moving car.

The plant was named after an herbalist named Joe-Pye, a 19th century promoter of Native American cures for ailments. Joe-Pye Weed is considered a medicinal plant, and has other names that refer to its use, including Gravel Root and Kidney Root (for treating kidney stones). It has a long listing of reported medicinal uses, including treating bed wetting, dropsy (fluid retention), gout, rheumatism, impotence, asthma, and chronic cough.

Though considered a weed, the English have been using Joe-Pye as a cottage garden flower for decades. Because of its tall slim structure it is often used as a background border behind shorter plants. It attracts a variety of butterflies, including the Swallowtail, Monarch, and Pearl Crescent. You might want to consider going native and putting Joe-Pye in your landscape. It likes a sunny spot with moist soil but can tolerate dry conditions if you keep it watered and incorporate some organic matter into the soil.

By: Steve Roark
Volunteer Interpreter, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park