Eutrochium purpureum (syn. Eupatorium p.) 'Floreupre1' EUPHORIA™ RUBY Joe Pye weed

EUPHORIA™ RUBY is the shortest growing and a very compact variety of Joe Pye Weed so far. Its sturdy, maroon stems commonly grow between 50 and 80 cm in height. As early as in late July appear up to 26 cm wide corymbs composed of bright purple red flower buds which open into tiny, fringed flowers. Their calyxes are bright purple and petals almost white which enhances the calyx colour and makes the plant a glowing showcase.

Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other winged insect, and provide them with plenty of food late in the season when not many flowers bloom. Deciduous leaves form whorls of 2 or 3, they are broadly lanceolate, serrated at margins, mid to dark green. EUPHORIA™ RUBY was developed by Ute Gebhardt and US plant patent No. PP31668 was granted in 2020.

This perennial was formerly called eupatorium but is now shifted to a new genus eutrochium because of its leaves which are opposite on eupatorium and whorled on eutrochium. It may get a little confusing when it comes to its hybrids that come from eutrochium genus but turn out to have opposite leaves.

Joe Pye Weed likes moist sites and when established it takes some level of occasional waterlogging, it can even grow at the marshy edge of a pond when it seeds itself there. It thrives in fertile, preferably alkaline soil in full sun or very light shade. Its stems are strong enough to take most weather caprices so you needn’t find it a sheltered spot. In spring remove all stems from previous year and beware of slugs that love its newly emerging foliage. It is hardy to at least -30 °C (USDA zone 5), possibly a little more.

Last update 17-10-2022