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Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)Foliage

Ironweed

Vernonia noveboracensis

Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) is a medium-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 5-9, that matures to about 4-6 ft × 3-4 ft. It does best in full sun with high water needs in moist and occasionally-wet soil. Expect purple blooms in summer and fall. It attracts bees, butterflies and pollinators, stands up well to deer and wet soil.

USDA zones
5-9
Sun
Full sun
Water
High
Mature size
4-6 ft × 3-4 ft
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Soil
Moist, Occasionally-wet
Bloom color
Purple
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators, Songbirds
Tough against
Deer, Wet soil
Native to
Eastern and southeastern United States

In the landscape

BorderMeadowNaturalizedPondButterflyCottageNativePollinator

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Ironweed is hardy to about -20°F (estimated from USDA zone 5), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

See the Ironweed in your own yard

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