Wingstem
Verbesina alternifolia
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Dominicus Johannes Bergsma
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Verbesina
- Species:
- Verbesina alternifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- VEAL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agonopterix eupatoriiella, Basilodes pepita, Cremastobombycia ambrosiella, Cremastobombycia ignota, Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton), Harris's Cracker (Charidryas harrisii), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), orange oakleaf (Charidryas nycteis), Texan crescent (Anthanassa texana)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Moths:Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Basilodes pepita, Cremastobombycia ignota, Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) Butterflies:Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes following fire; common in fire-maintained open woodlands and prairies.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers habitats like floodplains and moist woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification; light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI