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Vernonia arkansana - Ironweed

Vernonia arkansana
Arkansas Ironweed

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This vernonia is a tall North American perennial related to asters that easily exceeds 1.40 m (5ft) high. It consists of large leafy stems that are adorned in late summer with bright pink-violet flowers. This plant can withstand harsh winters without weakening and tolerates all types of very wet to moist soils. It will thrive in full sun in a natural garden, in the back of a bed, or near water.
Flower size
3 cm
Height at maturity
1.50 m
Spread at maturity
60 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil, Damp soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time August to October
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Description

Vernonia arkansana is a large and beautiful wild vernonia native to the north and central United States, a robust cousin of asters with brightly coloured pink-violet flowers in late summer when grown in the damp soils it prefers. This perennial with sturdy leafy stems is still not widely used, but it is a lovely relative of tall asters that endures harsh winters and tolerates all types of moist soil. Plant it in a natural garden, it at the back of a border or near water features. It will look stunning with inulas, aconites, and silver candles.

 

Vernonia arkansana belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a majestic plant found in Illinois, Kansas, southern Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the state of Missouri. It can be found along streams, on the edges of swamps, in meadows, and wet thickets, where it can reach up to 2m (7ft) high. In gardens, it is a herbaceous plant anchored by a strong perennial crown that generally reaches 1.50m (5ft) high and spreads 50cm (20in) across. The size of the plant depends on the soil's fertility and moisture content. Cutting back the stems in late spring helps reduce their height. It grows quickly, but it takes two years to establish itself. It forms a clump of tall and robust, straight, hairy, unbranched stems, bearing long, alternate, simple, narrow, pointed, smooth leaves that are medium green-blue. It Flowers from August to September-October depending on the climate. At the tips of the stems, inflorescences resembling small, fluffy, pink-violet pompoms appear grouped in terminal clusters or corymbs. The flowers all open at the same time, attracting a large number of butterflies for a magnificent spectacle. After pollination, rust-coloured seeds form. The vegetation is deciduous, emerging from the ground each spring and dying in autumn.

  

Very easy to grow in clayey and always slightly moist soils, this superb Vernonia arkansana pairs well with lots of plants and creates magnificent autumn compositions. On the banks of a pond, it spreads rapidly and combines with similar-looking eupatoriums, Lythrum salicaria, Filipendula rubra 'Venusta', Euphorbia palustris. In a wilder style, at the back of a border, this imposing perennial forms a very successful combination with Rudbeckia maxima, tall asters, and tall grasses such as Miscanthus 'Malepartus', Panicum, Stipa...

Vernonia arkansana - Ironweed in pictures

Vernonia arkansana - Ironweed (Flowering) Flowering
Vernonia arkansana - Ironweed (Foliage) Foliage

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time August to October
Inflorescence Flower head
Flower size 3 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green
Foliage description linear-lanceolate large leaves of large (up to 17 cm (7in) long), generally smooth.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1.50 m
Spread at maturity 60 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Vernonia

Species

arkansana

Family

Asteraceae

Other common names

Arkansas Ironweed

Origin

North America

Product reference158941

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Planting and care

Vernonia arkansana is an excellent perennial plant that deserves to be better known. It thrives in sunny locations and prefers rich and deep soils, but also tolerates clay soils very well. It cannot tolerate drought, but it grows well in any moist to wet soil. Leaf compost and coarse sand should be incorporated into heavy or compact soil when planting. The clumps can be divided in spring or autumn if they become too large. Cutting back the vegetation in late spring helps to limit the height of the plant. Trim the vegetation after flowering if you want to prevent self-seeding, or otherwise in late winter.

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Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Pond edge
Type of use Back of border
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil, rich and deep

Care

Pruning instructions Cutting back the vegetation in late spring helps to limit the height of the plant. Prune the vegetation after flowering if you want to avoid self-seeding, or in late winter.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March, June, September to October
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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