New York ironweed and Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium spp.) are often confused for one another because both aster-family wildflowers like the same environments and have similar appearances. But Joe-Pye weed is usually a shorter plant with leaves that oppose on the stems, while ironweed has leaves that are alternately arranged. Joe-Pye weed has flowers that are less tightly formed, while New York ironweed has flowers that are decidedly aster-like.