Eutrochium maculatum (syn. Eupatorium maculatum) is a member of the Asteraceae native to eastern North America. E. maculatum can be found in the wild growing in wet black soil prairies, sedge meadows, or swampy thickets in full- or part-sun.

Eutrochium maculatum ‘Gateway’ and ‘Purple Bush’ attract numerous insects as visitors, pollinators, or serving as a food host. A few of these associations include: butterflies, moths, bee flies, honey bees, bumblebees, long-horned bees (Melissodes sp.), and leaf-cutting bees (Megachile sp.). A number of moth caterpillars use spotted Joe-pye weed as a food source, and several species of swallow have been observed eating seed in the fall and winter.