New York Ironweed
Vernonia noveboracensis
- Native to:
- United States
User:SB_Johnny
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Vernonia
- Species:
- Vernonia noveboracensis
- USDA Symbol:
- VENO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 240 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, violet
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
Endopiza vernoniana, green cloverworm moth (Platynota idaeusalis), ironweed borer moth (Papaipema cerussata), ironweed clearwing (Carmenta bassiformis), mugwort plume moth (Hellinsia paleaceus), Parthenice tiger moth (Grammia parthenice), red groundling moth (Perigea xanthioides), Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa), Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea), Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), ⚠️Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Melissodes denticulatus, Melissodes trinodis, Zadontomerus Ashmead Butterflies:Atalopedes Scudder, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rootstock after fire; historically found in fire-maintained wet meadows 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 wet meadows and stream banks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover deeply.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are given a 4-week cool stratification period.
Establishment: Collected at George Washington Memorial Parkway, Dead Run and TRI by J. Englert in 11/95; Great Smoky Mountains National Park, by J. Beeler on 10/21/99 and 10/26/00. Found in low wet woods and marshes, especially near coast.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 months, then place @ 20C for 3 months. Requires darkness.