These massive plants are highly attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects..

Latin
Eutrochium purpureum
Family: Asteracea

Difficulty
Moderately challenging

Season
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy to Zone 4.

Timing
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date. Seeds may take 4 weeks to germinate at 21°C (70°F). If they don’t come up, wrap the planted tray in plastic and refrigerate for 4 weeks. Then return to 21°C (70°F). Transplant out 2-4 weeks after last frost.

Starting
Eutrochium seeds need light to germinate. Press them into pre-dampened soil, but barely cover them.

Growing
Grow in full sun to light shade. Eutrochium prefers moist soil, so it’s an excellent choice for low areas or water margins. Be sure to add lots of organic matter to the planting area. Cut the tall plants back to ground level in late winter.