3 Steps to growing Joe Pye Weed

A big attraction for hosts of butterflies, Joe Pye Weed also adds texture and character to flower beds in any part of your yard. These tips will help you grow this plucky plant in no time.

Standing up to two metres tall, with long, pointed leaves growing in whorls around thick stems, Joe Pye Weed is a real presence in your yard. One thing you’ll notice right away about Joe Pye Weed is how it draws butterflies which in turn add personality to a garden. On a warm, drowsy summer day, a single plant may be covered with dozens of swallowtails.
Large clusters of tiny nectar-rich flowers make a good landing pad and sipping station for butterflies!

Joe Pye Weed takes its time to emerge in the spring but don’t fret about this. The winter rarely defeats this tough perennial and once it starts to bloom, it makes up for lost time!
However, this is a shallow-rooted plant that needs to be grown where it won't be disturbed, in a sunny spot with moist soil. Joe Pye weed wilts in dry weather but is unequalled for tolerating standing water. This energetic grower is also a big feeder.
These tips will help:

• Spread a five-centimetre-thick layer of composted manure over the dormant plants every spring to keep them at their peak of perfection.
• Watch for fungal diseases typical of overly moist sites: powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot. Thinning stems to promote better air circulation is a good preventative.
• If you do see white powdery or dark sooty spots on leaves, remove and dispose of the affected foliage. The symptoms will naturally diminish in drier weather.
• While insects don't inflict life-threatening damage, grasshoppers and flea beetles sometimes chew the leaves in late summer.
• Unsightly late-season foliage is a good reason to keep Joe Pye weed at the back of the border, where its lower leaves are hidden from view.
• Plants can grow for many years undisturbed. When replanting, set the divisions at the same depth at which the parents grew.
• Prefer shorter plants? Cut the stems back by a third in late spring. They will rebound and flower but stand at least 30 centimetres shorter than untrimmed plants.

Joe Pye Weed's clusters of dusty pink flowers burst into bloom in mid- to late-summer and last for weeks.

• If you want a shorter version of Joe Pye Weed, go for 'Gateway', a dark pink-flowered version with a maximum growth of 1.2 to 1.8 metres.
• Another popular cultivar, 'Bartered Bride', features attractive white flowers.

A striking feature in any space plus a butterfly magnet, Joe Pye Weed is worth taking the time to grow in your garden. These steps will keep this plant in good shape in your yard for years to come.