Vernonia acaulis

Common Names

Stemless Ironweed, Ironweed

Summary

Stemless ironweed (Vernonia acaulis) is a perennial herb native to the southeastern United States, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. It forms a basal rosette of leaves and sends stems from the center to about 36–42 inches tall, bearing saturated violet-colored flower heads in late summer; described as tough as iron—undemanding and easy to grow—and it performs on woodland edges in well-drained to dry, sandy soils. Hardy in USDA zones 6–9.

In cultivation, Vernonia acaulis tolerates full sun to partial shade and average-to-dry soil moisture with adaptable soil pH. It fits into meadow and woodland landscapes with other late-summer bloomers, providing color when many perennials have faded and serving as a durable native addition to gardens and habitat plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-3.5 feet

Spread

1-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained to dry, sandy soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained to dry soils (preferably sandy soils)

Soil pH

No single ideal soil pH for Vernonia acaulis; tolerates a range of soil pH.

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Time

Summer (late June through August)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds