Joe Pye weed

Value to bees

Nectar

Very high

Pollen

High

As a honey crop

Minor honey crop — a surplus only locally or occasionally

Which bees, and why

The broad domed heads of shallow florets are accessible to almost everything, and a plant in full flower is loud with bees, butterflies and hoverflies simultaneously. It is a mainstay of North American pollinator planting.

Domed heads of tiny shallow florets forming a broad landing platform.

Worth knowing

An outstanding late-season nectar and pollen source, and one of the most heavily visited plants in a late border.

Flowering

In flower

July to September (northern hemisphere)

A late summer flow, running into early autumn.

Growing it

Conditions

Sun or light shade on moist to damp soil. It tolerates ordinary border soil that does not dry out and thrives in genuinely damp ground.

Size

1.5-2.5 m tall.

Native range

Eastern and central North America, in damp meadow, woodland edge and streamside.

Suits

Large gardens, Meadow or wildflower area

• Too tall for a small border; the compact cultivars are the practical option.
• Cut back in late winter rather than autumn, leaving the stems for overwintering invertebrates.
• Needs moisture — it wilts and disappoints in a dry summer border.

What it looks like

A very tall upright perennial with whorled lance-shaped leaves and large domed heads of fluffy dusty-pink to mauve florets, held well above head height on strong stems.