Hollow Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium fistulosum

Height: 5-7 ft
Spread: 2-3 ft
Bloom Time: July-October
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet, Moist
Life Cycle: Perennial

The pink flowers of Hollow Joe Pye Weed bloom in late summer in domed clusters at the top of plants. The lance-shaped leaves encircle the stems, usually in groups of four to seven (typically six). Hollow Joe Pye Weed grows in damp soil and naturally occurs in wet meadows; ditches; along stream banks and ponds; moist, open woods; and in other low-lying areas that contain moisture. This species is most common in areas with nutrient rich soil.

A large assortment of pollinators, especially Swallowtail butterflies, visit the flowers during their late summer bloom time. This robust plant has strong hollow stems—native bees lay their eggs in these, often using old growth from the previous year. The cavity-nesting queens lay eggs in the stem, forming compartments between each egg with plant matter and mud. These eggs hatch into larvae that remain in the stem through winter, emerging in spring.