Common Ironweed
SKU: AM019714
Shipping:
No longer available this season.
Overview
If there were awards for best pollinator support, native Common Ironweed would win the day. Clusters of brilliant purple flowers top the tall stems, creating a purple crown. Growing to 6 feet tall, Common Ironweed is a great pick for the back of a border, or the edges of a yard or meadow. Bees of all types love native Ironweed, as do butterflies. (Vernonia fasciculata)
key features
Botanical Name
Vernonia fasciculata
Growing Zones
Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Advantages
Native, Bee Friendly, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Birds, Deer Resistant, Naturalizes
Light Requirements
Full Sun, Half Sun / Half Shade
Mature Height
36-72" tall (3-6 feet)
Bloom Time
Mid summer to fall
SKU
AM019714
Description
If supporting pollinators is on your list, native Common Ironweed is a top pick. Clusters of magenta-purple flowers top the branches from mid-summer to fall and it is a pollinator magnet. In fact, the Xerces Society identified it as a special value plant for native bees. It is also the host plant for the American Painted Lady Butterfly. A resilient plant, it’s a good choice for rain gardens, too. Deadhead flowers to reduce self-seeding and to encourage more flowers. In fall, fluffy brown seeds follow spent flowers. Easy to grow, this low-care native species requires only a mostly sunny spot, average soil, and moderate moisture. Cut back by half in spring if a shorter height is desired.
