Ironweed, Prairie Ironweed, Vernonia fasciculata Michx., Minnesota native wildflowers, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

(Prairie Ironweed, Western Ironweed, Smooth Ironweed), Ironweed is an erect perennial, growing 2 to 6 feet on a stout, hairless stem that is light green to reddish purple in color. It is unbranched below the inflorescence. Leaves are alternate, up to 5"+ in length, lance-like with a sharp toothed edge (serrate), hairless, with the underside having a prominent central vein and a pitted surface. Leaves are stalkless. The inflorescence branches into flat dense clusters, 1-1/2 to 4" wide of small disk flowers that are violet-purple. Stalks of the flower cluster may have fine hair. The individual flowers have 15 to 30 florets, 5 lobes and a divided style. The flower cylinder is covered with green bracts with the appearance of fish scales which may also have fine hair. The flowers mature to a dry seed (achene) attached to brownish-purple pappus of hair like scales, which are carried by the wind. Ironweed grows in full sun in moist fertile soil. It is a common pasture plant as herbivores avoid its bitter taste in preference to other plants. Along field edges and railroads the plant will also be found. Butterflies and long-tongued bees are attracted to it, but also the caterpillar of the Ironweed Borer Moth, Papaipema cerussata.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Ironweed	Vernonia fasciculata Michx.	Aster (Asteraceae)	Upland	Late Summer
Other names and notes	(Prairie Ironweed, Western Ironweed, Smooth Ironweed), Ironweed is an erect perennial, growing 2 to 6 feet on a stout, hairless stem that is light green to reddish purple in color. It is unbranched below the inflorescence. Leaves are alternate, up to 5"+ in length, lance-like with a sharp toothed edge (serrate), hairless, with the underside having a prominent central vein and a pitted surface. Leaves are stalkless. The inflorescence branches into flat dense clusters, 1-1/2 to 4" wide of small disk flowers that are violet-purple. Stalks of the flower cluster may have fine hair. The individual flowers have 15 to 30 florets, 5 lobes and a divided style. The flower cylinder is covered with green bracts with the appearance of fish scales which may also have fine hair. The flowers mature to a dry seed (achene) attached to brownish-purple pappus of hair like scales, which are carried by the wind. Ironweed grows in full sun in moist fertile soil. It is a common pasture plant as herbivores avoid its bitter taste in preference to other plants. Along field edges and railroads the plant will also be found. Butterflies and long-tongued bees are attracted to it, but also the caterpillar of the Ironweed Borer Moth, Papaipema cerussata.