Plant types and subtypes: Perennials
Light Requirements: sun, part-sun
Water Use: low
Soil Moisture: dry, moist
Soil Description: rich, average, loam, clay
Height: 3'-5'
Bloom Time: July, August, September
Bloom Color: purple
Leaf Color: green
Hardiness Zone: 6, 7, 8
Additional Tags: attracts bees, attracts birds, attracts butterflies, attracts hummingbirds, clumping, colonizing, cottage garden plant, naturalizing, ornamental foliage, rare

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Description
Vernonia glauca
Also known as:broadleaf ironweed
,upland ironweed
,tawny ironweed
,ironweed
Vernonia noveboracensis var. tomentosa
Description
Vernonia glauca is similar, but shorter, to the more commonly found V. noveboracensis. It grows to a height of 5' and bears large terminal clusters of fluffy purple flowers. The deep-green leaves are lance-like and also attractive. It bears large terminal clusters of fluffy purple flowers. The deep-green leaves are lance-like and also attractive.
Cultivation
Adapted to sunny conditions, Vernonia glauca does very well in a wide variety of soil conditions.It is ideal for perennial flower beds, cottage gardens and sunny borders. Because of its size, it is best planted in the back of a flower bed where it will provide a colorful focal point in late summer through early fall. The height of the plant may be controlled by cutting it back hard in late spring. This will also promote the growth of additional flowering stems. Self seeds readily, and is a good choice for mass roadside plantings, or naturalized in a meadow setting. Blooms mid-July through September. Zones 6-8
Propagation
Propagate by dividing mature clumps in early spring, or from softwood cuttings in late spring. Collected seeds should be sown immediately or they will require cold stratification.
Additional Notes
The common name ironweed, might be attributed to the rigid, tough stems of the plant, as well as the rust color the flowers take on as they fade.
Native Range & Classification
Recorded County Distribution: USDA data
Native Range:
AL, DC, DE, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
USDA Endangered Status:
- Endangered: NJ, PA
Classification
Kingdom | Plantae | Plants | |
Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants | |
Superdivision | Spermatophyta | Seed plants | |
Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants | |
Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons | |
Subclass | Asteridae | ||
Order | Asterales | ||
Family | Asteraceae | Aster family | |
Genus | Vernonia | ironweed | |
Species | Vernonia glauca | broadleaf ironweed |