Plant DetailShow Menu

Verbesina alternifolia

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Actinomeris alternifolia
Phonetic Spelling
ver-BES-see-nah al-ter-nih-FOH-lee-ah
Description

Yellow Ironweed is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to North America and is found primarily in the Piedmont and mountains of NC. Its native habitat is fertile areas of moist wooded slopes and open woodlands, riverbanks, shaded lowlands, roadsides and fields. It grows up to 8 feet tall in full sun to partial shade and is considered an important plant for bees but can spread aggressively.

Use this plant in naturalized areas, native plantings, woodland edge or along ponds and streams.

 

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#yellow flowers#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#perennial flowers#summer flowers#native wildflower#NC Native Pollinator Plant#border back#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#yellow flowers#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#perennial flowers#summer flowers#native wildflower#NC Native Pollinator Plant#border back#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Verbesina
    Species:
    alternifolia
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Larval host to the gold moth, Summer Azure butterfly, and the silvery checkerspot. Bees visit the flowers.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Oval-shaped flat achenes are winged.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The daisy-like flower is 1-2 inches across and composed of 3-10 yellow petals that reflex backward and a pincushion-like greenish-yellow center. They occur in dome-shaped panicles. Blooms July-Oct.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Oval to lance-shaped alternate leaves flow into wings on the stem. Up to 10 inches long and 2.5 across. Margins can be smooth, slightly serrated or sparsely dentate. The upper surface has a rough texture while the underside is paler with hairs along the veins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Central stem unbranched except near the top. Usually winged with long white hairs between the ridges.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Weedy