Vernonia fasciculata (Prairie Ironweed)
Prairie Ironweed, Common Ironweed, Smooth Ironweed
Providing a pop of tall color in the late-season garden, Vernonia fasciculata (Prairie Ironweed) is an upright perennial boasting dense clusters of tiny, fluffy, intense violet-purple, finely petaled flowers from mid-summer to early fall. Attractive to bees and butterflies, the blossoms are borne atop stout, upright stems bearing numerous linear to lance-shaped, coarsely-toothed, deep green leaves, 5 in. long (12 cm). The flowers give way to rusty seed clusters, which are carried by the wind. Found in prairies, meadows, and pastures with sandy, loamy soil, Prairie Ironweed is not an aggressive spreader but can become weedy. Care should be taken in planting it, especially in smaller gardens. However, because of its height, it is suitable for borders, screens, and for native and cottage gardens.
- Grows up to 2-6 ft. tall and wide (60-180 cm) in sunny conditions, and slightly less in shadier spots.
- Performs best in full sun in average, medium to wet soils. Tolerate brief seasonal flooding.
- Excellent choice for the back of borders, cottage gardens, wildflower gardens, rain gardens, prairies, and meadows.
- No serious pest or disease issues. Deer resistant.
- Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and avoid unwanted self-seeding.
- Easily grown from seed. Seeds require at least 60 days of cold stratification for germination.
- Native to south-central Canada to central and eastern United States.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 9 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Vernonia - Ironweeds |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 2' – 6' (60cm – 180cm) |
Spread | 2' – 6' (60cm – 180cm) |
Spacing | 24" – 72" (60cm – 180cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Massachusetts, New York, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Southeast, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Southwest, Oklahoma |
Tolerance | Deer, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
By Joshua Mayer, Cultivar413, Adam Skowronski, Flickr
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 9 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Vernonia - Ironweeds |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 2' – 6' (60cm – 180cm) |
Spread | 2' – 6' (60cm – 180cm) |
Spacing | 24" – 72" (60cm – 180cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Massachusetts, New York, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Southeast, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Southwest, Oklahoma |
Tolerance | Deer, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |