Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 2 plant ID/comparison guides:

collage of Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed and Hollow Joe Pye Weed

Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium dubium) vs. Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)

Updated September 2nd, 2024

These plants are sometimes confused where their ranges overlap in southern New England through the Mid-Atlantic. They are easily distinguished by their stems and leaf vein pattern, and often also by height or number of leaves per whorl. E. dubium is slightly more tolerant of shade and drier conditions, prefers less-disturbed habitats, and is limited to acidic soil, mostly near the coast. E. fistulosum requires more nutrient-rich soil and sun, favors more disturbed areas, and is more common farther inland.

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collage of Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed and Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed

Coastal Plain Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium dubium) vs. Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

Updated June 16th, 2022

These plants are occasionally confused in the region where their ranges overlap; both tend to have 3-4 leaves per whorl. They are usually easily distinguished by leaf vein pattern, and the color and density of the inflorescence can also provide ID clues. Populations in the north can be easily distinguished by stems. E. purpureum averages taller than E. dubium, but their heights overlap. However, their habitats are almost entirely non-overlapping, with E. dubium preferring acidic, wet ground in sunnier conditions, and E. purpureum preferring drier, shadier habitats.

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