Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Spotted Joe Pye Weed isn't a weed at all. It's an important source of food for native pollinators. When looking for a large, low-maintenance summer perennial for a cottage, native, pollinator, or butterfly garden, spotted Joe Pye weed may be the right selection. Pinkish-purple flowers top tall stems with whorls of narrow leaves. Named for the characteristic purple spots on the stems, this is a perennial that can add some height to a landscape. It is tolerant of wet conditions, prefers full sun, and is generally low maintenance and free of pests and diseases.
Various legends surround the curious name of this plant, which generally center on an individual named Joe Pye (his ethnicity varies upon the telling), who used the plant to treat Typhus.