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Stemless Ironweed Vernonia acaulis

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ver-NOH-nee-ah ah-KAW-liss
Description

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:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#purple flowers#honey bees#nectar plant#specialized bees#NC native#pollinator plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#nectar plant late summer#bee friendly#Audubon#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#purple flowers#honey bees#nectar plant#specialized bees#NC native#pollinator plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#nectar plant late summer#bee friendly#Audubon#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Green straight stem
  • 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