Fauna
Plant

Sweet Joe-Pye-weed

Eutrochium purpureum

Also known as Sweet-Scented Joe-Pye Weed, Purple Joe-Pye Weed, Green-Stemmed Joe-Pye Weed

Sweet Joe-Pye-weed towers over woodland edges and moist clearings, producing large, vanilla-scented domes of pale pinkish-purple flowers in late summer. Its tall stems feature whorls of lance-shaped leaves that give off a subtle sweet aroma when crushed. Serving as a crucial late-season nectar source, it attracts a vibrant array of swallowtails, bumblebees, and other native pollinators.

Native PerennialPollinator MagnetFragrant
Sweet Joe-Pye-weed reference1 / 7
(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Minerals
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Eastern Cottontail
  • Eupatorium Borer Moth Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive species competition, land clearing
HabitatsMoist woodlands, forest margins, open thickets, stream banks
Life spanPerennial (10+ years)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusEutrochium
  4. SpeciesEutrochium purpureum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Woodland Setting: Look for tall stems along semi-shaded forest edges and moist glades.
  • Pollinator Watching: Visit flowering clumps on warm August afternoons to spot swallowtail butterflies.
  • Scent Detection: Gently crush a leaf to release a subtle, sweet vanilla fragrance.
Related species
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