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Wildflower Wednesday - Ironweed

Ironweed 

Vernonia fasciculata is my pick for Wildflower Wednesday as it's just starting to bloom in my garden and is one of my all-time favorites.  One look at that color, and its mop of flowers often covered with bees, and I knew it belonged in my garden.
But where to find it?  As with too many native plants, it wasn't available locally so I deployed an even better option - found it in a field slated for commercial development, asked permission,  and "rescued" several.
It took a couple of years to seem happy, but now it dies to the ground each winter only to return the following late spring/early summer to make me and the bees happy.
Evidently ironweed doesn't make everyone happy.  Check out this quote I found online:  
"Ironweed was named for its rugged stalks, which stubbornly persist throughout the winter. Its underground stems are equally tenacious, sending up sprouts even when repeatedly mowed. The plant's vivid purple flowers may look lovely in a cityscape, but they are a bane in the pasture."
Do you have a favorite wildflower?  Wildflower Wednesday was started by my friend Gail on her blog "Clay and Limestone" to celebrate the native plants that sustain our native bees and pollinators.  Share yours - and follow Gail - to encourage a bit of re-wilding in our gardens.



Comments

Rock rose said…
Well done. Must ry not myself but have too many problems with the new blogger. I tried switching over to new blogger but switched back. Undoubtedly we will learn.
June 25, 2020 at 7:53 AM
Gail said…
I love Ironweed. I have the tall species and sometimes give it the Chelsey chop so keep it in bounds! So glad you are sharing a wildflower. xoxo
June 26, 2020 at 2:30 PM
Rock rose said…
Why is it so difficult to find the best native plants? I would love to find this and also clematis. Impossible. And yet I see them growing out in the wild.
December 9, 2020 at 11:44 AM
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