Tall Ironweed
Vernonia angustifolia
Melissa McMasters
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Vernonia
- Species:
- Vernonia angustifolia
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 3-4 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun, jul, aug
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Pink, Purple
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina
Keystone Species Ranking
- Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus) Butterflies:Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gemmed Satyr (Cyllopsis gemma), Gemmed Satyr (Cyllopsis gemma), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Little Glassywing (Vernia verna), Little Glassywing (Vernia verna), Northern Pearly-eye (Lethe anthedon), Northern Pearly-eye (Lethe anthedon), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Peck's Skipper (Polites coras), Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis), Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis), Sachem (Atalopedes Scudder), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier), Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny habitats