Wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Actinomeris alternifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-BES-see-nah al-ter-nih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Oval-shaped flat achenes are winged.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
