Leafless Ironweed Vernonia acaulis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-NOH-nee-ah ah-KAW-liss
- Description
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This attractive wildflower is native to NC, SC and Georgia. It does well in dry areas of the Piedmont and coastal plains of North Carolina. Stemless ironweed forms a basal rosette of leaves with 36-42” tall stems rising from its center. Intense purple-fushia flowers appear from late June through August and are highly attractive to bees.
It performs well at the edge of a woods in well-drained to dry, sandy soils and in meadows and woodland landscapes
- 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:
- Vernonia
- Species:
- acaulis
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE North America
- Distribution:
- NC, SC, GA
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds enjoy the fruits, hummingbirds and butterflies the nectar. Members of the genus Vernonia support the following specialized bee: Melissodes (Eumelissodes) denticulatus.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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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:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a cluster of rusty clustered achenes. Displays from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2 inch wide frilly flower heads in loose corymbs are at the tips of spreading-ascending branches with 30-40 purple-magenta tubular flowers with 5 spreading narrow lobes. Bracts surround each head. Blooms June to Aug.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves mostly basal with blades oblong-elliptic, 4-8 inches long, irregularly toothed and hairy. A few alternate stem leaves are elliptical and much smaller.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Green straight stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
