Tennessee Smart Yards Native Plants
A comprehensive database of Tennessee native plants
Joe-Pye-Weed, Trumpet Weed, Hollow Joe-Pye-Weed, Hollow-stemmed Joe-pye-weed
 Wikipedia Photo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page  Photo Courtesy Katie Walberg |
Joe-Pye-Weed, Trumpet Weed, Hollow Joe Pye Weed, Hollow-stemmed Joe-pye-weedEutrochium fistulosum (Eupatorium fistulosum)Full sun, moderately wet to medium moisture level, most soils including clay, moderately acid to slightly acid pH. 2-7 ft. height, blooms summer to fall, lilac pink flowers.Germination Code: D. Surface sow 4 weeks at 60-68 degrees F., then 6 weeks in refrigerator, then move to 70-75 degrees F for germination.Native Region: Statewide, lightly in West TennesseeStatuesque plant, the largest of the Eupatoriums. Favors low damp thickets and meadows. Attracts butterflies and bees.flower;sun;wet;clay |
Tennessee Smart Yards Native Plants 
This plant is common growing along roadsides in my area of Tennessee. I found loads of it growing on county land alongside our local dump. I checked at the dump station to see if they would mind me digging up some in March, and they said no problem. They consider it a weed and mow it down in early summer. You do need to select your digging spot in summer when you can see where they are located, but then in early spring just look for the tall hollow dried stems. I didn’t even get a complete set of roots on each plant, and all the ones that I dug did great. They produced healthy, beautiful blooming plants that drew lots of butterflies. For me they are especially nice because I really need something that can compete with the Monarda that is crowding out many of my other plant species and this can. I am already planning to dig up more this coming spring.
I find it hard to tell the different Joe Pye Weeds apart–this one above versus E. maculatum (Spotted) versus E. purpureum (Sweet), and I wasn’t sure which one I had actually dug up. Here are some handy ways to tell them apart:
(1) Joe-Pye-Weed (E. fistulosum). Stem is tinged with purple but seldom spotted; stem has a white bloom that rubs of easily; cross-section of stem is hollow or has a hollow tube in the center. Also called Hollow Joe-Pye-Weed for a reason :).
(2) Spotted Joe Pye Weed ( E. maculatum). Stem is deep purple or purple spotted.
(3) Sweet Joe Pye Weed (E. purpureum). Stem is green and often has a slight slight whitish bloom that rubs off easily.
P.S. I have my plants in regular garden soil, not a damp depression, and they are doing fine. Plant may be more adaptable than the books describe.
I think I”ve discovered some volunteers in our golf course pollinator garden. At least iNaturalist is identifying the plants as such. Would like for them to be easily tranplanted to another area because currently they are close to the anise hyssop. Joy’s notes are helpful.