Photo by Beth Kleinpeter
Ironweed, Vernonia gigantea
Ironweed, Vernonia gigantea
This most special fall blooming perennial wildflower can be found along roadsides, empty lots, moist woods, and coastal prairies. Its deep purple blooms are a dramatic sign that fall has arrived. If you are lucky, you can see it along the roads, dancing in the breeze alongside fellow fall bloomers Swamp Sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius) and Sugarcane Plumegrass (Saccharum giganteum). It chooses to grow in wet spots, naturally, yet I have seen it thrive through long drought. She can grow in full sun or part shade. Ironweed is a highly adaptable plant, hence its name. I love this tall perennial toward the back of a perennial garden, especially if there is a fence to help support it. To control height and structure it’s best to cut this plant almost back to the ground by late June. It will grow more compact with lots of blooms come September. If planted in a home garden or small space, it is perhaps best to not let it reseed, as it germinates with extreme vigor.
