Eupatorium 'Baby Joe'

Eupatorium 'Baby Joe': Butterfly Buffet in a Compact Size

Joe Pye weed usually towers over the fence. 'Baby Joe' kept the big, rounded magenta-pink flower heads and skipped the growth spurt. ALL THE BUTTERFLIES, NONE OF THE LADDER.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Eupatorium dubium 'Baby Joe' (also listed as Eutrochium)
• Common Name: Joe Pye Weed
• Height: 70–75 cm (27–30 in)
• Spread: 75–90 cm (30–36 in)
• Flowers: Large, rounded heads of magenta-pink to mauve florets
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall (July to September)
• Foliage: Coarse, dark green leaves in an upright, bushy mound
• Features: Good for cutting, seed heads for winter interest

Where to Plant: It fits where full-size plants of its kind won't: the middle of a smaller border, a front-yard pollinator bed, or a large container. It is a good choice for rain gardens and low spots that stay damp.

Companion Plants: Use compact 'Baby Joe' in a moist bed in sun or part shade with dark iris and a late ironweed. Acorus 'Oborozuki' edges the front with golden, grass-like blades at 25 to 30 cm. Iris 'Black Joker' opens deep purple Siberian iris at 48 to 50 cm in May and June. Hibiscus 'Midnight Marvel' brings huge scarlet blooms at 120 cm from July to September. Vernonia 'Summer's Swan Song' adds dark purple ironweed at 75 to 90 cm in September and October.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun or light shade in average to moist soil. Clay is fine. Water regularly during dry spells, since Joe Pye weeds wilt when they get thirsty, and add mulch to hold in moisture. Leave the seed heads standing for winter interest and cut the stems back in early spring. Divide in spring every few years if the clump gets crowded.

History: 'Baby Joe' was selected in the Netherlands by Hubertus Oudshoorn, who spotted it as a single compact seedling in his greenhouse in 2003. Joe Pye weeds are native to the moist meadows and streamsides of eastern North America, and botanists now place them in the genus Eutrochium.

Final Thoughts: Ideal for smaller yards and gardeners who don't own a stepladder. FULL-SIZE PARTY, FUN-SIZE PACKAGE.