Joe Pye

This tall Missouri native perennial grows 4–7 feet high with sturdy stems lined by whorled, lance-shaped leaves and topped by large, domed clusters of vanilla-scented, rosy pink to purplish flowers from mid-summer into early fall. Adaptable to a range of conditions—from moist meadows and stream margins to drier, lightly shaded sites—it makes a striking focal point in perennial borders and naturalized plantings. Renowned for attracting butterflies, especially swallowtails, its blooms are followed by persistent seed heads that add interest into winter.