Eutrochium purpureum

If you love butterflies and have space for it, Sweet Joe Pye Weed would be a fantastic addition to your garden! A sun-loving, clumping perennial getting to be up to seven feet tall, it is a sight to behold. Not only is this plant a host for at least ten different moth species, but it also provides food for pollinators and birds alike. Although the flowers themselves are small, they form fragrant clusters that are pale pink to purple, showing in late summer. Flowers give way to cypselae, sometimes referred to as achenes, which persist in winter until they are either eaten by birds or swept away by the wind pulling on their tufts of hair. Sweet Joe Pye Weed prefers moist and well-drained soil but doesn’t mind getting its toes wet occasionally, making it perfect for your rain or water garden.