Surge pack

Ironweed

Vernonia
A genus of perennials that are part of the larger Daisy family, that are valued for their late summer and autumn flowers. Tough as Iron, I object to them having weed in their name, being far too beautiful. Rarely used in landscaping, many species are very ornamental and have high value as landscape plants. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Propagation can be from softwood cuttings taken during late spring and division.
Seed should be collected during autumn and cold-moist stratify for 3 months in the refrigerator. Sow thickly as rates of germination are not that high.
The Ironweed tolerate Juglone from Walnut tree roots and are rarely eaten by deer or rabbit.

* photos taken on Aug 3 2012 in London, Ontario

Vernonia altissima ( Tall Ironweed )
A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 15 x 4 ( rarely more than 8 ) feet, that is native to eastern North America, from Missouri to western New York; south to Mississippi to Florida.
The leaves are up to 12 inches in length.
The vivid rose-purple flowers are borne late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on any fertile, moist soil.

Vernonia angustifolia
A robust, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 x 4 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, that is native to oak woods and pine barrens in the southeastern U.S. ( from Mississippi to North Carolina; south to Louisiana to Florida ).
The linear leaves, up to 5 x 0.3 inches, are deep green. The foliage and habit, resembles that of Amsonia hubrechtii.
The deep violet flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne in large, airy flower heads, up to 8 inches across, all summer long. The stems are sturdier than most other species. The flowers attract hummingbirds.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

Plum Peachy
Deep purple flowers.

Vernonia baldwinii ( Western Ironweed )
An aggressive spreading, rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 5 feet, that is native to prairies the western U.S. ( Colorado to South Dakota to Iowa; south to New Mexico to Texas ).
The long, lance-shaped leaves are mid green.
The intense, violet-red flowers are borne on fussy, dense heads, up to 6 inches across, from late summer until autumn frosts.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on just about any well drained soil.

* photo of unknown internet source


Vernonia crinata
A very large perennial, reaching up to 10 ( rarely over 6 ) feet in height.
The leaves are up to 7.5 inches in length.
The violet-purple, daisy-like flowers, up to 1 inch across, borne on loose clusters during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.

Vernonia fasciculata
A perennial, reaching up to 6 feet in height.
It is among the most ornamental of the Ironweed.
The violet-purple flowers are borne late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on wet soil.

Vernonia hastata

* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD


Vernonia lettermannii ( Letterman Ironweed )
A fast growing, dense, compact perennial, reaching up to 3 x 4 feet, that resembles Amsonia hubrechtii in habit and natural range. It is native to rocky soil from Arkansas south to Coahuila state in Mexico. Rare in both the wild and in cultivation, most of its native range is in the Ouchita River basin in Arkansas.
It has high potential as a landscape plant for the perennial border and masses in commercial shopping centers where it tolerates reflected heat off pavement.
The fine-textured, linear leaves, up to 3.5 x 0.15 inches, are mid green.
The very attractive luxuriant foliage makes this plant very attractive even when not in bloom.
The purplish-pink flowers are borne on flower heads late summer to early autumn.
Very profuse blooming, a single plant may bear hundreds of flowers at a time.
The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun on well drained soil. Tolerant of drought and extreme heat, it will also tolerate floodplain sites which occasionally flood. Too much water and fertilizer can make it less sturdy and flop over, it is not tolerant of heavy wet clay.

* photos taken on August 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA



* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Sep 14 2013 in Columbia, MD


Iron Butterfly
Very vigorous and densely branches, with deep violet flowers, otherwise similar.

* photo taken on Sep 5 2012 in Burtonsville, MD
* photo taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on Sep 22 2013 in Harford Co, MD


Vernonia lindheimeri ( Woolly Ironweed )
A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet, that is native from north central Texas to Arkansas; south into Mexico. It is most common on the Edwards Plateau in Texas. Very attractive, it should be used much more in landscaping.
Slow to establish, it wont grow much above ground during the first few years as it established its deep root systems which will enable it to survive extended drought.
The long narrow linear leaves, up to 3.2 x 0.15 inches, are bright green above, woolly beneath.
The purplish-pink flowers are borne on showy dense heads late summer through autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in full sun on neutral to alkaline, very well drained soil. Tolerates clay, extreme heat and drought making it a great plant for massing on commerical sites.
It also tolerates juglone from Black Walnuts.

Leucophylla ( Silver Ironweed )
An extremely attractive form with silvery-white foliage that is sold by High Country Gardens.

Vernonia marginata ( Plains Ironweed )
A perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet, that is native to moist soil near streams in the south central U.S. ( from New Mexico to Kansas; south into Texas ).
The long linear leaves, up to 5 x 0.5 inches, are bright green.
The pink flower heads contain an average of 21 flowers.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun on moist, well drained soil.

Vernonia missurica ( Missouri Ironweed )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 7 x 4 ( rarely over 6 ) feet, that is native to fertile, low meadows & prairies in midwestern North America ( from Minnesota to Ontario; south to New Mexico to Alabama ).
The toothed, broad lance-shaped leaves, up to 8 x 2 inches, are deep green and woolly.
The pink flowers are borne on small heads during mid summer to early autumn.
The stems are woolly.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on fertile, moist soil.

Vernonia noveboracensis ( New York Ironweed )
A bold, stately perennial, reaching up to 11 x 6 ( rarely over 6 ) feet, that is native to fertile wet thickets in the eastern U.S. ( Ohio to Massachusetts; south to Mississippi to Florida ). It looks great with taller ornamental grasses ( esp calamagrostis ) and taller Rudbeckia, Asters and Goldenrods. The New York Ironweed grows with horizontal rhizomes and a dense fibrous root system.
The broad lance-shaped leaves, up to 10 x 2.3 inches, are deep green.
The vivid violet-purple flowers borne in dense, large clusters during late summer to mid autumn.
The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, fertile soil. Tolerant of drought and poorly drained soil.

* photos taken on Jul 21 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photos taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD









Alba
White flowers.