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.
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Compositae |
| Genus | Vernonia |
| Common names | Ironweed |
| 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) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, United States, Wisconsin |
| Tolerance | Deer, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Compositae |
| Genus | Vernonia |
| Common names | Ironweed |
| 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) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, United States, Wisconsin |
| Tolerance | Deer, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Vernonia fasciculata (Prairie Ironweed) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Vernonia fasciculata (Prairie Ironweed) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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