Vernonia arkansana

Ironweed are tall US natives that look quite similar to each other. All bloom late in the season; purple flowers are much loved by pollinators, especially butterflies.

Great ironweed aka Arkansas ironweed aka curlytop ironweed is easily identified by its long, thin, curly green bracts. Easy to grow on moist soil in full sun.

Zones: 3 to 8

Family: Asteraceae

Type: Perennial

Height: 36 in 60 in.

Spread: 36 to 48 in.

Exposure: Full Sun

Soil Conditions: Moist, average

Bloom Time: September to November

Bloom Color: purple-violet

Native Range: Illinois to Kansas south to Arkansas and Oklahoma

Image Credits:

• Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons