Eutrochium dubium (Coastal Joe-Pye Weed)

The most compact of the Joe-Pye weeds, coastal Joe-Pye weed brings the same long-lasting, pollinator-rich bloom display of its larger relatives in a garden-friendly scale - equally at home in a rain garden border or massed in a wet meadow restoration.

Species Overview

Eutrochium dubium is a clump-forming perennial native to the eastern United States, particularly coastal plain regions. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall and produces clusters of mauve-pink flowers from midsummer to early fall. One of the smaller species within the Joe-Pye weed genus, its more compact size makes it well suited for garden settings, including containers.

Application

• Wet meadow and pond-edge restoration
• Rain garden and cottage garden plantings - the most compact Joe-Pye weed, suited to smaller spaces
• Pollinator habitat plantings
• Container plantings, given its relatively modest mature size

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Wide range - moist, fertile, humusy soils to sandy or gravelly soils, as long as they don't dry out
• Plant Type: Forb
• Mature Height: 4-8 ft. (some sources cite a smaller 3-5 ft.; see flags)
• Fall Color: Insignificant/None
• Bloom Color / Period: Pink, Purple; July-September
• Wetland Indicator Status: FACW (Facultative Wetland)
• Native Range: Atlantic coastal plain from Georgia to Nova Scotia, and inland along major river systems
• Hydrology: Moist-Wet
• Root Depth: Shallow (Under 12 in.) (fibrous root system, genus-wide)
• Salinity Tolerance: Low
• Growth Rate: Rapid
• Drought Tolerance: Low
• Deer Resistance: Yes (Rarely Damaged)
• Flood Tolerance: High - A wetland-associated Joe-Pye weed of the coastal plain, consistent with the genus' well-documented preference for marshes, wet meadows, and seepage areas.
• Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
• Growth Habit: Clumping/Mounding
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
• Pollinator Value: Supports bees, supports butterflies