Great Southern white on Tall ironweed, Vernonia gigantea

Giant ironweed

Pictured above: Great Southern white on Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) by Peg Urban. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.

Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is a robust, perennial wildflower found naturally in floodplains, wet to mesic pine flatwoods and ruderal areas, and along forest margins and stream banks. Flowering occurs in summer and fall, with peak blooming in July. It attracts many pollinators, particularly butterflies.

Giant ironweed, Vernonia gigantea
Photo by Mary Keim

Unlike most members of the Aster family, the giant ironweed flower lacks ray florets. Its disc florets are tubular and may be lavender, magenta or deep purple. Extending from within each disc floret tube is a bifurcated and curled style. The flowers are about 1 inch in diameter and are born in loose terminal panicles. At the base of each flower are bracts that vary in color from dark green to purplish-green to brown. Basal leaves are coarse, oval-shaped and appear in early spring. Stem leaves are narrowly ovate to elliptic and can grow up to 8 inches long. Both have serrated margins. Stems may be glabrous or finely pubescent. Seeds are tiny achenes with tufts of bristles that catch the wind and aid in dispersal.

The common name, ironweed, may refer to the toughness of the stem of this and other Vernonia species.

Family: Asteraceae (Aster, composite or daisy family)
Native range: Panhandle and peninsula south to Martin and Lee counties
To see where natural populations of Giant ironweed have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu.
Hardiness: Zones 8A–10B
Lifespan: Perennial
Soil: Moist to moderately dry, well-drained sandy and loamy soils
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: 3-5’ tall
Propagation: Division, seed
Garden tips: Giant ironweed is very adaptable in the landscape, although it is not drought-tolerant. It is an excellent addition to a butterfly garden or mixed wildflower garden; due to its height, it is best located in the back of the planting. This plant can sucker and may require weeding to contain it. It is deciduous and will die back in the winter.

Giant ironweed plants are occasionally available from nurseries that specialize in Florida native plants. Visit www.plantrealflorida.org to find a nursery in your area. Seeds are available from the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.