Vernonia missurica - Ironweed

Vernonia missurica is a large, hardy, robust and beautiful wild vernonia native to the banks of the Missouri River. At the end of its tall leafy stems, inflorescences composed of many small, tousled heads in shades of pink-purple to bright magenta bloom in the middle of summer. This cousin of asters is loved by butterflies and birds, endures harsh winters and scorching summers, and accepts all types of soil, including those which are sometimes dry in summer. It will thrive in a natural garden, at the back of a border, or near water.

Vernonia missurica belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a majestic plant, widespread in the central United States (south of Ontario, Michigan, and Nebraska to the south of Alabama and Texas), where it can reach a height of 2 m (7ft). It prefers moist soils, although it can withstand temporary droughts. It is a herbaceous perennial anchored to a powerful rhizomatous crown that reaches 1.60 m (5ft) high and 50-60 cm (20-24in) wide. Its mature size will vary, depending on the growing conditions. It grows quickly but takes two years to establish. It forms a cluster of large and robust, straight, hairy, unbranched stems, bearing alternate, simple, hairy, narrow, lanceolate to ovate, dark green leaves, up to 17 cm (7in) long. In July-August, it has lots of small tousled pompom flowers in shades of violet-pink, gathered in wide, flattened terminal corymbs at the ends of the stems. The flowers all open at the same time and last a long time, attracting many butterflies and creating a magnificent spectacle. Goldfinches feast on its rusty-coloured seeds at the end of the season.

Very easy to grow and perfectly hardy, Vernonia missurica should be planted in our gardens more often. It is as easy to grow as large asters, but immune to diseases and pairs well with a multitude of plants to create magnificent autumn compositions with asters, shrubby salvias, astrantias, heleniums, and hastata verbenas, for example. In a wilder style, at the back of a border, this imposing perennial forms a very successful combination with Rudbeckia maxima and tall grasses like Miscanthus 'Malepartus', Panicum, and Stipa. It will thrive on the banks of a pond, with Joe-Pye weeds, Lythrum salicaria, Filipendula rubra 'Venusta', and Euphorbia palustris.