joe-pye weed

American  

[joh-pahy weed] / ˌdʒoʊˈpaɪ ˌwid /

noun

1. Also called purple boneset.  a tall composite weed, Eupatorium purpureum, of North America, having clusters of pinkish or purple flowers.

2. Also called spotted joe-pye weed.  a tall composite weed, Eupatorium maculatum, of North America, having clusters of pinkish or purple flowers and stems that are often spotted with purple.

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joe-pye weed British  

/ ˈdʒəʊˈpaɪ /

noun

1. any of several North American plants of the genus Eupatorium, esp E. purpureum, having pale purplish clusters of flower heads lacking rays: family Asteraceae (composites)

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Etymology

Origin of joe-pye weed

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Around this time on a recent Thursday, a dozen people clustered on one side of the falls, along two ledges that were blanketed in snakeroot, yellow jewelweed, spotted Joe-Pye weed and pale swallowwort.

From New York Times

"Sure," he says, "If you put Joe-Pye weed in a planter, butterflies will come. And potted milkweed or fall asters will attract native bees. So you can turn things around in your own little ecosystem — an individual can make a difference."

From Salon

They grow assorted milkweeds, asters, elderberry, mountain mint, joe-pye weed, goldenrods, white snakeroot and ironweed.

From New York Times

The tatarian aster, by contrast, is upright to six feet and expands into large clumps in time, much as Joe-Pye weed.

From Washington Post

At the grand neoclassical estate in Scotland named Hopetoun House, the owner has turned the old walled vegetable garden into a frothy incoming tide of perennials and grasses, including such beauties as Mexican feather grass, astilbes, echinops, echinaceas and joe-pye weed.

From Washington Post