Page 31 - MNLGA Free State Spring 2024_WEB SPREADS

GROWING WITH EDUCATION (Continued) has vanilla scented purple-pink blooms created from tiny
tubular flowers. The flowers are arranged in huge domed
Eutrochium dubium, or Coastal Plains Joe Pye Weed, thrives in clusters that stretch 12-18 inches across blooming from July to
full sun and partial shade, and needs rich fertile moist soils September. While in bloom, butterflies, skippers, moths and
that stay wet. The plants grow 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide bees feast on the flower nectar and there are caterpillars
with bright green 2-6 inch long coarsely toothed leaves that that thrive on the foliage. In the fall, the flowers mature into
are arranged in whorls of 3-4 on purple spotted stems. Small a fruit called a cypsela that is bullet shaped with a tuft of
disk flowers in dark purple to pale pink pack together in large hair to float on the breezes except for the ones that the birds
dome shaped clusters, blooming from July to October and eat. The dark green 2-6-inch-long lance shaped leaves have
attracting many pollinators including swallowtails, fritillaries, serrated margins and are attached in whorls of 3-4 around
skippers and many species of bees. In the autumn, the tiny the purple stems. There are two cultivars, one named ‘Little
seeds are enjoyed by many songbirds. Although the plants Red’, which blooms at the same time as the species but is
need moist to wet soils, they are also able to tolerate salt air compact, growing only 3-4 feet tall. The sweetly scented
and soils. Eutrochium dubium is also available in 2 cultivars. purple-pink flowers form a 4–6-inch domed compound
‘Baby Joe’ only reaches 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. These cluster from July to September. The second is Euphoria Ruby,
plants are upright and compact with a moderately vigorous a very compact upright version, growing only 2 ¾ feet tall
growth and a freely flowering pattern with large purple and 2 ½ feet wide. Euphoria Ruby flowers have no sweet
clusters held aloft with an upright stalk. ‘Little Joe’ is also scent but do create a domed cluster of flowers that are 10
smaller than its parent plant, growing 3-4 feet tall and 1-3 inches wide, bloom from July to September and stay on the
feet wide. Besides the size difference, ‘Little Joe’ is stiffer and plants through the winter. Both of the cultivars will thrive in
more upright in its growth, the flower clusters are more rain gardens.
compact, and a lighter colored lavender combined with
better drought tolerance. ‘Little Joe’ doesn’t come true from Conoclinium coelestinum, or Blue Mist Flower, thrives in full
seed which is similar to its native parent which produced it. sun or partial shade and prefers fertile moist soils that
These smaller cultivars are excellent candidates to consider do not dry out. The plants grow in a clump 1 ½ - 3 feet tall
for rain gardens. and wide, with green 3-inch leaves with a serrated margin
growing on hairy stems that can be purple, lavender, red
Eutrochium fistulosum, or Hollow Joe Pye Weed, thrives in full PHOTOS ABOVE AND BELOW: PHOTOS RIGHT; TOP TO BOTTOM: or burgundy in an opposite pattern. Blue Mist Flowers look
sun to partial shade and prefers rich fertile moist soils that Joe Pye Little Joe with butterfly Helenium Helena Red Shades very similar to the annual ageratum and are sometimes
stay wet. The plants can grow 4-7 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide Conoclinium coelestinum Blue mistflower Rudbeckia Indian Summer called a hardy ageratum. The tiny fluffy tubular blue to blue-
with an erect clump forming pattern, making a dramatic purple disc flowers bunch together to form a flat-topped
accent in the back side of a landscape. Lance shaped 6-12 cluster about ½ inch across. The flowers don’t all bloom at
inch long, 3-inch-wide dark green leaves have coarsely the same time but stretch their colorful blooms for about 8
serrated margins and are attached in a whorled pattern Monarda Didyma Bee Blam Flower weeks from July to October. While in bloom, many butterflies
of 4-7 leaves. The sturdy green or purple round stems are like pearly crescents, skippers, swallowtails, queens and
attached to the central dark purple stem that is hollow in monarchs feast on the flowers’ nectar. Other insects that
the center. The vanilla scented soft pink lavender colored feed on the foliage become food for bluebirds, red winged
floret 1/3 inch across joins together with 5-7 florets per cluster. blackbirds and orioles. The flowers mature into fruit that
Each segment of the domed cluster has 5-12 small clusters ripens around November and the seeds are very viable.
to create a compound cluster which can grow 12-18 inches The plants themselves grow vigorously and spread by
across. Flowers bloom July to October, a time when very little underground strongly aggressive rhizomes. Dead heading
is in bloom, and provides flower nectar for many pollinators is recommended before the plants go to seed to slow the
from butterflies to bees and more. Perl Crescent butterfly spread of this beautiful but aggressive plant.
larva feeds on the foliage. The seed heads are attractive and
last into the winter with small dry seeds that have hair like Helenium autumnale, or Sneezeweed, thrives in full sun
bristles to float on the wind unless the native songbirds eat and rich moist soils. It is a clump forming plant and it is
them first. recommended to trim back the plants in early June to reduce
their height and encourage branching. Or, if your deer
Eutrochium purpureum, or Sweet-Scented Joe Pye Weed, population is large, they will do the job for you. Sneezeweed
thrives in full sun to partial shade and rich fertile moist soils received its name because in the past, the leaves and flower
that do not dry out. The plants can tower at 5-7 feet tall head have been dried and crushed to form a type of snuff
and 2-4 wide, and can create a wonderful background in
(continued on next page))
meadow, border or woodland landscapes. Joe Pye Weed

30 SPRING 2024• Free State News Membership Matters • SPRING 2024 31