Meet ‘Summer Snow’ Joe-Pye Weed

A five-foot-tall, white-flowering native perennial with a very different idea of what a modern garden plant should be.

Most gardeners know Joe-Pye weed for its large clusters of dusty pink flowers, which rise above other perennials in late summer.

But the Chicago Botanic Garden has introduced a selection with an unexpected characteristic: white flowers.

It’s called Eutrochium maculatum ‘Summer Snow’.

And unlike many modern plant introductions, it hasn’t been bred to remain small.

‘Summer Snow’ produces sturdy, upright stems topped with clusters of small white flowers.

At maturity, it can reach approximately five feet tall, creating an impressive presence in a mixed perennial border.

The flowers provide a bright contrast against dark green foliage and attract pollinators.

The Chicago Botanic Garden reports that plants in its trials flowered for approximately five to six weeks during summer.

The plant originated from wild white-flowering Joe-Pye weed discovered in northern Illinois.

The Garden evaluated seedlings from this material and eventually selected ‘Summer Snow’ for its growth habit, foliage quality, and garden performance.

In the Garden’s trials, it performed well in heavy clay soil and tolerated periods ranging from wet conditions to relatively dry weather.

Its foliage also showed excellent resistance to powdery mildew in those trials.

These are useful characteristics for Midwestern gardeners.

Give ‘Summer Snow’ full sun to light shade and soil that stays reasonably moist.

It’s particularly appropriate for rain gardens, larger perennial borders, naturalistic plantings, and areas where you want a substantial summer-flowering plant.

It isn’t the right selection for a tiny container or an extremely dry site.

But in a garden with enough room, its height is an asset rather than a drawback.

And that’s what makes ‘Summer Snow’ interesting.

It’s a reminder that a better perennial doesn’t always have to be a smaller perennial.

Sometimes we need a plant that is willing to stand above the rest.

Reference: Chicagoland Grows, Plant Release Bulletin #49: Summer Snow Joe-Pye Weed, Eupatorium maculatum ‘Summer Snow’ PP31,128 (Chicago Botanic Garden, 2021); Justin Lombardoni, “How Chicago Botanic Garden Approaches Perennial Breeding,” Greenhouse Grower, October 28, 2026.