Looking for Bursts of Purple? You NEED Ironweed!

If you’re looking for a plant to give you multi seasonal interest in that consistently moist area in your garden, look no further than Ironweed. 

New York Ironweed (Vernonia) standing tall in a late Summer native meadow

In this post, you'll learn:

• Why every Fall garden needs Ironweed

• Ironweed's characteristics and growing requirements

• Where to plant your Ironweed

• Ironweed's benefits to the ecosystem

• The different varieties of native Ironweed we carry at Bountiful Gardens

Ironweed standing out in the native meadow next to our Ewing, NJ location

In Spring, this perennial emerges with strong stalks that form a bush-like appearance with all of its narrow foliage, which gives it an amazing presence from Spring through Summer.

Multiple Ironweed plants popping up in a native meadow in Pennsylvania

End of the Summer going into Fall, this plant gets covered in hundreds if not thousands of these purple flowers that adorn the plant going all the way through October. 

Gorgeous Ironweed blooming in a native field

Then as Fall transitions into Winter, you get another added attraction as all of these leaves take on a beautiful purple color before falling off. 

Ironweed flowers are so purple they almost glow!

Through the winter, these seedheads will stay on and feed many different types of insects and birds alike. 

A closeup of Narrowleaf Ironweed

There aren’t too many flowers that get this vibrant of a purple color, especially at this time of the year. This is why Ironweed is the perfect addition to your Fall garden! 

A closeup of Sand Hill Ironweed

Ironweed is in the genus Vernonia, which includes many species. Here at Bountiful Gardens, you can find New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), Narrowleaf Ironweed (Vernonia lettermanii) and Sandhill Ironweed (Vernonia angustifolia). 

A row of Narrowleaf Ironweed at Bountiful Gardens, Ewing

The main differences between the three species of Ironweed we carry are as follows: Narrowleaf Ironweed gets between 24-36” tall and wide, and prefers drier to average soils. 

A group of Sand Hill Ironweed at Bountiful Gardens, Hillsborough

Sandhill Ironweed gets between 2-4’ tall and 2-3’ wide, and refers drier to droughty soils. 

Ironweed scattered along the edges of a path through a native meadow

Lastly, we have New York Ironweed, which gets between 2-9’ tall and 2-4’ wide. This one prefers moist soils and can even handle standing water! 

New York Ironweed towering in a native meadow

We’re lucky enough to have a native meadow right behind our Ewing location, allowing us to check out all of these amazing perennials at their peak form. Just look at the Ironweed Ike found—it’s massive!!

Vernonia 'Summer's Swan Song' is a gorgeous variety we carry.

Ironweed is a great addition to your perennial garden. As its name suggests, its stems are super strong, making it a great feature plant for the back of a garden that won’t get knocked over by wind. 

Ironweed is a medicinal plant!

Medicinally, it’s been used for cramps, aches and pains, and even as a blood cleanse by using the leaves in a tea. And since the stems are so strong, it’s been used as bedding and for basket weaving! 

Sand Hill Ironweed in our Hillsborough display

Ironweed is such a gorgeous plant with so much to offer any landscape—don’t miss out on adding it to your garden this season! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QhrN-UBDCc