Photo of Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

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© Marilynn Miller

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Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 3 plant ID/comparison guides:

Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) vs. Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

Updated September 11th, 2024

These species are frequently confused where their ranges overlap in the eastern and lower Midwestern U.S. Although they can occur relatively near each other on the same site, they have mostly non-overlapping habitat preferences. They can usually be distinguished by characteristics of their stem, and often also by their height, inflorescence shape, and number of leaves per whorl. E. purpureum ranges farther north and northwest, and occurs in drier, shadier, better-drained habitats. E. fistulosum ranges farther south and prefers moister, sunnier, more disturbed habitats, and is more tolerant of flooding and waterlogged soils.

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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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Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) vs. Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)

Updated April 23rd, 2021

These two species are occasionally confused where their ranges overlap in the northeast and Midwest. They are usually easily distinguished by their stems, inflorescence shape, and number of florets per head. They also have average differences in bloom color, leaf texture, and number of leaves per whorl, but these characteristics have more variability and overlap. E. purpureum prefers drier, shadier habitats, whereas E. maculatum is usually found in sunnier wetlands. The two species can hybridize, so it may not be possible to identify all individuals.

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