Joe Pye weed's large fragrant flowers attract butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects and furnish nesting sites for beneficial insects in the strong stems. It is a lovely addition to any large cottage garden or naturalized setting, for it is a low-maintenance choice that animals rarely browse due to its bitter taste. It is also suitable for rain gardens, as it requires medium to wet soils, sandy or clay, and flowers reasonably well in light shade. Provide about an inch of mulch.