Eupatorium maculatum ‘Gateway’ (Joe Pye Weed to you common folk) is absolutely my most reliable, statuesque, critter-welcoming and long lasting bloomer when compared to all other perennials in my garden. No matter where I stand in my yard, the mass of Joseph Pye is visible and begs to be ogled.
Don’t believe me? Check these out:
It is literally a butterfly and bee magnet:
Steady pink blooms standing at about six feet tall and NEVER topples over:
With purple/red stems that add additional interest:
The only possible negative is that these mid summer blooming perennials are late to emerge in the spring so they leave quite a hole. But guess what? That falls on us genius gardeners to identify a way to account for said hole in a smart and creative way.
You up for the challenge?
You can see from the second picture that the Gateway cultivar is more attractive than the wild species. It seems to be brighter and less heavy looking.
gorgeous
the deer ate all my joepye. They leave the swamp milkweed alone.
Two ideas: 1) could you do a pyramid trellis with an early-blooming clematis right in the middle? Then by the time this blooms the clematis would be out of bloom, not competing and just sort of blending in.
2) tulips? Although maybe that’s tempting fate with your aggressive deer.
Your garden just looks great.
What a beautiful butterfly!