Ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Ironweed:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-NOH-nee-ah no-vee-bor-ah-SEN-sis
- Description
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Ironweed is an herbaceous native perennial wildflower in the Aster family and is found in all areas of NC. It may grow 5 to 8 feet tall with deep purple flowers that appear in clusters from mid-summer to mid-fall on strong stems. This low maintenance wildflower naturalizes easily and is adaptable to garden conditions.
Ironweed prefers rich moist acidic soils but will grow in average moist to wet soils in full sun. Use in a rain garden, cottage garden, meadow, along streams or ponds or the back of the border. If a shorter plant is desired, prune it back in spring to about 2 feet. It is attractive if blooming occurs at different heights, so prune to different heights for this effect.
This plant was selected as the 2004 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
- 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:
- noveboracensis
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MA, MD, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds. Members of the genus Vernonia support the following specialized bee: Melissodes (Eumelissodes) denticulatus.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- There is high deer resistance.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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:
- Rusty colored seeds August to October
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Showy tiny, fluffy, deep purple, disc flowers (no rays) in loose, 3-4 inch wide, terminal clusters. Blooms from July to September
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, lanceolate and finely toothed with a downy underside and pointed tips. Base is wedge-shaped. 6-8 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Leafy stems green to rusty color are stiff and reach 4'-6'. They may be smooth or have stiff hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
