Why Grow Joe Pye Weed for Pollinators? We Tell All
As we head towards mid-summer and nectar sources become more scarce, it’s not uncommon to spot less pollinator activity in the garden. But there’s one plant that instantly attracts bees, butterflies, and many other beneficial insects: Joe Pye weed.
Joe Pye weed is a native plant that produces huge clusters of nectar-rich blooms, lasting until fall. Not only do pollinators love its flowers, but its towering height (reaching 4-7 ft tall) provides shade and shelter for wildlife.
So, instead of planting a whole new pollinator garden in August, focus on introducing this one perennial. Here’s why Joe Pye weed (which you can find at Nature Hills) is bound to bring pollinators to your yard for the rest of summer and fall.
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Why Grow Joe Pye Weed for Pollinators?
(Image credit: Steffen Hauser / botanikfoto / Alamy Stock Photo)
Native across eastern and central North America, Joe Pye weed is a perennial wildflower with big clusters of pink blooms that have a delicious vanilla scent. When it comes to pollinators, it supports a huge range of beneficial insects.
From mid-summer to early fall, Joe Pye weed fills a ‘nectar gap,’ i.e. it blooms when other summer flowers have faded. This means it becomes a vital source of nectar for pollinators where other sources are scarce.
It attracts several types of bee, including bumblebees, carpenter bees, honeybees, sweat bees, and more. Monarch butterflies also stop by Joe Pye weed during their migration, and other butterflies like swallowtails and skippers are frequently found on it.
Because its flowers are made up of hundreds of tiny florets, it can host huge numbers of pollinators in one go. Sprinkling these wildflower seeds for pollinators from Amazon nearby will create the ultimate pollinator patch.
The best part is, a single Joe Pye weed plant (which you can purchase from Amazon) can bloom for several weeks at a time. Continuously, one patch of Joe Pye weed can provide a couple of months of nectar, until fall-blooming native plants jump into action.
A bonus is, the sheer size of Joe Pye weed (this Sweet Joe Pye weed from Plant Addicts reaches up to 7ft) provides some shelter and shade for wildlife in the summer heat, including small mammals and birds. So, it’s an overall great pick for a wildlife garden.
Even better, as we transition into fall, Joe Pye weed’s structural seedheads provide plenty of interest, especially when dusted in frost. They also help feed birds in winter.
How to Grow Joe Pye Weed
(Image credit: Holcy via Getty Images)
These tall perennial flowers grow across USDA zones 4-8 and there are just a few things they need to thrive:
- Soil: Unlike other wildflowers that adapt well to poor conditions, Joe Pye weed actually relies on fertile soil to thrive. Though, it does tolerate clay soil types more than other perennials. In fact, Joe Pye weed doesn’t do well in dry conditions, so soil that retains moisture is best. You can use this soil test kit from Amazon to identify nutrient levels and amend as needed. A layer of organic compost can improve your garden soil for Joe Pye weed.
- Lighting: As for lighting, Joe Pye weed will flower best in full sun with six hours of direct sun. Though, it does tolerate partial shade. But, higher sunlight exposure encourages sturdier stems and more vibrant blooms.
- Water: Joe Pye weed does best with consistent moisture, needing regular watering when first planted. You shouldn’t allow it to sit in prolonged drought, as this can cause wilting, leaf scorch, and may even cause it to dieback. This soil moisture meter from Amazon can help you monitor moisture levels, so you know when to top it up.
- Winter care: After Joe Pye weed fades, you can leave the hollow stems for wildlife to use as shelter in winter. In late winter or early spring, use these Fiskars bypass pruning shears from Amazon to cut the stems back 4-8 inches above the ground.
Best Joe Pye Weed Varieties to Try
(Image credit: Cynthia Shirk via Getty Images)
Although Joe Pye weed is known for its towering stems, there actually are a few compact varieties that work well in a container garden if you’re short on space.
‘Euphoria’ Joe Pye weed (which is available at Nature Hills) is one of the best for pots, reaching 24-32″ in height.
‘Little Joe’ Joe Pye weed (which you can find at Plant Addicts) reaches just 3-4ft in height, which is ideal for smaller borders.
Or, if you want to grow Joe Pye weed for height and as an architectural plant, Spotted Joe Pye weed is a good choice (you can find Spotted Joe Pye weed seeds on Amazon). It reaches 4-6 ft in height and effortlessly fits into naturalistic planting schemes.
What to Shop
Pollinator Watering Station
These pollinator watering stations insert into your garden border and provide a safe hydration spot for bees and butterflies.
This wildflower mix is full of nectar-rich blooms pollinators love. It includes 18 different varieties.
This wooden bug hotel has lots of nooks and crevices for beneficial insects to use for shelter.
If you want to take your yard to the next level with supporting pollinators, don’t forget to add specialist pollinator plants to your garden. Even if you only have a small amount of space to work with, you can plant a pollinator strip.
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