Plant · GBIF taxon 3138201
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium fistulosumAlso known as Trumpetweed, Purple Thoroughwort, Hollow-Stemmed Joe-Pye Weed
Towering over moist meadows and stream margins, Hollow Joe-Pye Weed produces massive, dome-shaped clusters of pinkish-purple flowers throughout late summer. Its tall stems are completely hollow and glaucous, lined with whorls of coarsely toothed leaves that emit a light vanilla aroma when crushed. These majestic perennials serve as vital late-season nectar sources for swallowtails, monarchs, and native bumblebees preparing for autumn.
Pollinator MagnetWetland NativeLate-Summer Bloom
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Grasshoppers
- Caterpillars
ThreatsWetland drainage, development, broad-spectrum herbicide runoff, and invasive plant competition
HabitatsMoist meadows, floodplains, stream banks, marsh margins, and damp roadside ditches
Life spanPerennial (10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusEutrochium
- SpeciesEutrochium fistulosum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Snip or gently press a dead stem near the base to confirm it is hollow, unlike its solid-stemmed relatives.
- Gardening: Plant in full sun to light shade with consistently moist, rich soil to encourage towering heights.
- Wildlife Viewing: Visit blooming patches during warm August afternoons to observe dozens of feeding butterflies.
Pollinator "Eastern Tiger Swallowtail" by ShenandoahNPS is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0
Frequent Companion (c) Thomas Koffel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Koffel · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Étienne Lacroix-Carignan · cc0
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.