Eupatorium rugosum ‘Chocolate’
Blooming Time
Exposure
A lovely selection of our native Joe-Pye, ‘Chocolate’, as you might expect, displays pleasing chocolate colored foliage-carried upon shiny purple stems. It is a slow colonizing ground cover valued for contrast, yet stands well on its own with additional color provided by masses of bright white late summer- and fall-borne flowers. Needs a fair amount of moisture if grown in full sun. Nice for cut flowers, it is an excellent foreground plant to vibrunums, tall grasses, and perennials and is a great moderate to large scale ground cover.
Details
Hardiness Zone:
Blossom Color:
White to Cream
Growth Habit:
Clump Forming
Max Height:
3'
Texture:
Recommended Spacing:
We sell this plant in these containers:
Special Characteristics
Features
Deep shiny purple stems clothed in rich burgundy chocolate colored foliage, topped in late summer and fall with clusters of white flowers.
Landscape Value
Large scale ground cover, backdrop plant, dwarf hedge, specimen, or accent. Native cultivar.
Care
Watering:
'Chocolate' Joe-Pye requires a fair amount of supplemental watering and often requires watering on a regular basis during the growing season.
Fertilizing:
'Chocolate' Joe-Pye benefits from regular feeding and likely will grow best with: a spring (May) application of slow release fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio (such as a 15-5-10) at a rate of about 10 pounds per 1000 square feet, and a summer (July) application of slow release fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio (such as a 15-5-10) at a rate of about 10 pound per 1000 square feet, and and an early fall (September) application of a 2-1-2 ratio (such as a 10-5-10) at a rate of 15 pounds per 1000 square feet to encourage root development and cold hardiness.
Pruning:
'Chocolate' Joe-Pye should be enjoyed all winter long, then, during early April before it begins to grow again, it should be pruned or mowed back to ground level.