Vernonia fasciculata (Prairie 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.