This perennial species of the aster family is similar to the spotted Joe-Pye-weed. The leaves are in whorls of six (sometimes 4-7). The stem is hollow, smooth, and tinged with purple but seldom spotted. The central stem can have a heavy white bloom.

The terminal flower clusters are domed and less flattened than in the spotted Joe-Pye-weed. The cluster, in turn, is made of smaller groups of flowers about 1 inch in diameter. Individual pink to lavender flowers are many and tubular. This species grows in wet thickets and meadows.

The leaves are lance-shaped and coarsely toothed. This species can grow 2-9 feet tall. It is found throughout the eastern half of North America and blooms from July to October The flowers have a mild fragrance. Like spotted Joe-Pye-weed, this plant is reputed to have healing powers. The original genus name comes from Eupator, a Biblical herb doctor.

Commercially it makes a good backdrop for flower gardens and attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The achene seeds are wind-distributed.