FNPS Plant Database

Vernonia gigantea

tall ironweed

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

tall ironweed

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Vernonia gigantea

Family:

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.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Seed or division. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars

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.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The genus name honors the English botanist William Vernon, who did fieldwork in North America.

Citations:

Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Tras, Pamela.  2001.  Gardening for Florida's butterflies.  Great Outdoors Publishing, St. Petersburg, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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