Vernonia lettermannii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-NON-ee-ah let-ter-MAN-ee-eye
- Description
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Ironweed is an upright, clump-forming, attractive perennial that is native to North America and is in the aster family. The strong upright stems may appear reddish with fine linear green leaves. giving it a willowy appearance. It tolerates a variety of soil types and once established it can withstand drought or occasional flooding. The frilly purple blooms are visited by butterflies and bees in mid to late summer.
It is not found commonly in the wild other than Arkansas and Oklahoma and is mostly available through nurseries. The cultivar 'Iron Butterfly' is a popular plant. Use in the native and pollinator garden in sun to partial shade.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Iron Butterfly'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Iron Butterfly'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Vernonia
- Species:
- lettermannii
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Arkansas and Oklahoma
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- 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 pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Brown to gray nutlet with a bristly brown to purple colored pappus.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are very tight clusters of tiny tubular purple disc flowers. Blooms mid to late summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are up to 3 inches long and 1/8 inch wide and are finely textured.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
