Joe Pye weed Interesting Notes

This short and sweet dwarf variety of Eupatorium is fantastic for use in perennial borders, rain gardens and mixed containers with its shorter stature and upright habit. Attractive, dome-shaped clusters of tiny, rosy-purple blooms are a favorite of butterflies and gardeners alike, lasting from mid-summer through fall before turning into tufts of fuzzy seed heads with late autumn interest. Eupatorium ‘Phantom’ is a clump-forming perennial with whorls of coarse green leaves on red-purple, sturdy stems. Chicago Botanic Garden trialed Eupatorium ‘Phantom’ for six years and found this variety to be disease-resistant and have excellent flower production with 80-100% flower coverage.

E. ‘Phantom’ is believed to be a hybrid of E. maculatum ‘Atropurpureum’ and E. rugosum from Herbert Oudshoorn of the Netherlands. Eupatorium spp are mostly found in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade and the adaptability of the genus lends itself to being a great garden plant. If Eupatorium ‘Phantom’ is grown in drier conditions, it can take drier conditions but does prefer average soil moisture conditions. During dry spells, leaves may scorch if allowed to dry out. The genus of Eupatorium has been split in recent years and Eupatorium maculatum has been reclassified to Eutrochium maculatum.

While it is attractive to cut back stems to the ground in late winter for maintenance of this plant, consider leaving them a little longer as their hollow stems provide habitat for winter nesting insects. On warm days, flowers are slightly vanilla-scented and covered in bees and butterflies.

Eupatorium 'Phantom' Growing and Maintenance Tips

Thrives in moist, fertile soils. If soil should dry out, the leaves may appear scorched. This prairie plant is easily propagated by seed, cuttings, division and may also be transplanted in spring. Cut back in early spring and fertilize to promote bushier growth. May be used as a backround plant in border gardens, in meadows and in areas in which it may naturalize. Cut back after winter's end. Hollow stems are good solitary bee nesting material - if possible, leave 6-18" of stem up for nesting bees. 

Good Substitutions

Eupatorium purpureum ssp. maculatum 'Gateway'

Eupatorium purpureum 'FLOREUPRE1'

Eupatorium dubium 'Little Joe'