(Eupatorium maculatum) Joe-Pye weed is a tall perennial that occurs prefers full sunlight, wooded slopes, wet meadows and thickets and stream margins. It prefers moist soils, but with its extensive root system, it also tolerates drought well. It is a large plant, growing 4 to 6 feet tall. It has tiny, vanilla-scented, dull pinkish-purple flowers in large, terminal, domed, compound inflorescences bloom in mid-summer to early fall. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies. Flowers give way to attractive seed heads which persist well into winter.