'Prairie Princess' Ironweed (Vernonia)
Perennial
- Rosy purple flower clusters bloom late summer through early fall.
- Ironweed that holds its foliage all season! Mildew-resistant.
- Durable native perennial loved by pollinators, especially butterflies.
- Zone 4-9, sun, 26-30" tall x 30-36" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Ironweed (Vernonia) is a popular native perennial closely related to asters. It’s known for its dainty flower clusters that sit atop tall stems, attracting pollinators and serving as a host plant to several species of butterflies. It will grace your garden with flowers from late summer through fall with ease, and is unbothered by common garden pests like rabbits or deer.
Details
Patent #: PPAF CPBRAF
Common name: Ironweed
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 26-30" tall X 30-36" wide
Flower color: Purple
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer, fall
Bloom time: Late summer through early fall
Features: Proven Winners, native, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, rabbit-resistant, rain garden, pollinator-friendly, suitable for slopes, cut flower, low maintenance
Uses: Wildlife gardens, native plant gardens, rock gardens, cottage gardening, foundation planting, massing, naturalizing, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (> 6 hours sun).
Water: Water regularly, unless growing in standing water. Handles some periods of drought once established.
Spacing: 30 inches apart.
Fertilizing: Nothing special is required. If desired, apply a general-purpose garden fertilizer in early spring.
Winterizing: No special care is needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut back plants almost to the ground in late winter to early spring as soon as new growth appears.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.