98. A NATIVE PERENNIAL TO TRY—JOE-PYE WEED

The verdict is in—plant more native flowering perennials! Gardens with non-native species of plants are often demanding of care and water and are of little benefit to wildlife. Native plants, on the other hand, are tough, suited to the region from which they came, and require little fertilizer to grow. They also use less water than exotic flowering perennials due to their deep root systems. Native plants can significantly reduce water runoff, as well. Best of all, they support our endangered pollinators and provide shelter and food for wildlife. Native plants are part of the natural ecosystem, and they attract more birds, bees, and butterflies than non-native plants.

There are other reasons for planting natives in your yard. They are long-lived, offer three- to four-season interest, and can reduce weeds by their dense groupings. With all that, who wouldn’t want native perennials in their gardens?

Joe-pye weeds and their relatives are not well known, but they are one of the best native plants for attracting an assortment of butterflies to a late-season garden. They have long-blooming, large airy flowers, possess bold foliage, and come in a wide range of plant sizes. Some of them can grow to be 7 feet tall, making them a good screen or backdrop plant. They like moist, almost wet soils. A popular variety is ‘Gateway’ joe-pye weed (Eutrochium purp. maculatum ‘Gateway’), which grows 4 to 6 feet tall and has dusky pink flowers from midsummer to early fall. Shorter hybrids include ‘Little Joe’ (Eutrochium dubium ‘Little Joe’). It grows up to 5 feet tall, and it features enormous dome-shaped heads of rosy-purple flowers atop dark purple stems in late summer. It is easy to grow, but do not let it dry out. It’s a magnet for butterflies. Leave the dried seed heads on the plant for winter interest.