Vernonia gigantea
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Tall Ironweed
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Flower | |
| Size: | 4-6 ft | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Purple | |
| Fruit Color: | NA | |
| Phenology: | Winter dormant | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Back of a moist wildflower garden. Can also use on the edges of natural or created wetlands and streams. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed or division. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, Seed, Specialty providers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Adaptable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
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| Insects: | Nectar attracts butterflies and native beens. Larval host for spring azure butterfly. | |
| Native Habitats: | Exposed sand and gravel bars of streams during low water, stream banks, hydric to wet mesic pine flatwoods. Rich soils. Ruderal. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | The genus name honors the English botanist William Vernon, who did fieldwork in North America. |