Here in the middle of winter I thought I would bring a little taste of summer in to the blog with a wonderful and underused native plant.
Queen of the meadow, Gravel or Kidney root, Purple or Tall Boneset , Joe Pye weed are all common names of this famous perennial wildflower of the eastern United States. It's most famous common name Joe Pye weed refers to a Native American healer who used the plant to treat Massachusetts Bay colonists with typhus. The plant was also used to treat bladder and kidney infections including kidney stones, hence some of its other common names. The plant is mostly found in low moist areas and according to the species can reach heights to ten feet tall. It is not particular to the type of soil although a little extra moisture would not hurt. The taller varieties may need staking or some wind protection if placed in an area in in which the top heavy blooming plants could tumble over. It makes an excellent background plant for the cottage garden. Bloom colors vary from nearly white to pinkish purple. It is an excellent butterfly magnet and is a good native replacemant for non native varieties such as butterfly bush.
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Joe-Pye weed IS a marvelous plant, isn't it? I love the wild varieties that grow here in Nova Scotia (we have several different species) but also am very fond of the 'Chocolate' variety (which I planted in my chocolate garden).
ReplyDeleteLOVE THIS PLANT! One of the best and most beautiful out there, particularly for a "natural" scape. good post!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite native plants! We have it growing down the road from our house in a wooded, wet area.
ReplyDeleteThese are very exciting comments and verbage about Joe-Pye. I'd love to get more information from Jodi in Nova Scotia about what she calls her chocolate garden and other varieties of Joe-Pye. My gardens are small and personal, but they are ours.
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