Prairie Ironweed
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Pickup currently unavailable
407 South Pipeline Road East
Euless TX 76040
United States
+12148140932
Also known as Prairie Ironweed, Common Ironweed
Vernonia fasciculata, known as smooth ironweed, showcases its distinctive glabrous leaves, stems, and lovely flower heads. This charming plant is native to regions stretching from Ohio to North Dakota and further south to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. It typically stands upright at a height of 2-4 feet (and occasionally reaches up to 5 feet) on sturdy, leafy stems that branch at the top. The leaves, narrow and linear to lance-shaped, can grow up to 5 inches long and have delightful serrated edges. From late summer through fall, it dazzles with composite flowers, each boasting dense, fluffy purple disks (with absent rays), blooming in densely clustered, fastigiately arranged corymbs. After blooming, the flowers give way to rusty seed clusters, adding another layer of interest. This common name has been sweetly associated with its “iron-like” qualities, which highlight its resilient stems, rusty-tinged fading flowers, and rusty-colored seeds. While it may not stand out much in ornamental gardens, its beautiful flowers are a favorite among butterflies.
Smooth ironweed is a breeze to grow in average to medium-wet soils under full sun. Found primarily in moist wild areas that can handle brief flooding, it also adapts wonderfully to average cultivated garden soils. You’ll notice that plants tend to grow taller in wetter conditions. If you'd like a shorter plant, just cut back the stems in late spring! To keep things tidy and prevent self-seeding, remember to remove the flower heads before the seeds develop. This lovely species of ironweed may hybridize with other native ironweeds, which can sometimes make it a little tricky to identify the plants, but isn’t that part of the fun in gardening?
Height: 2’-4’
Spread: 1.5’-3’
Bloom: July-September
Light: Full Sun
Water: Medium, High
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: South-central Canada to central and eastern United States
Spring Shipping:
Orders are shipped within 7-10 business days. We will email you if there are expected delays.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
