Sunday, May 17, 2020

In Jo's Yard - 61 Narrow-Leaf Ironweed


The Tall Narrow-leaf Ironweed (Vernonia angustifolia) in my backyard is starting to come back after a winter’s rest.  It is deciduous, dying back to the ground in winter and emerging in early spring. In March-April, it begins as a fresh green little pile of elliptical leaves with serrated edges.  By June it could be 2-3 feet tall, with stunning purple flowers.  I love that it is planted with the tall yellow starry Rosinflower – a beautiful color combination.   

This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds, and currently, my birdhouse is right in the middle – and occupied every spring! 

In the fall, the Ironweed is quite tall, and sometimes leaning one way or another.  The purple flowers start to form seed heads.  The stems seem quite thick, but they are hollow, so it is possible to use hand clippers to cut them back to the ground.  Over winter, it can be hard to remember where they were, so you might want to mark them with sign, or pine cones, etc., so you can look for their emergence the next spring. 

RESOURCES:



                  MARCH 2019 – Narrow-leaf Ironweed starting to come back


                              JUNE 2019 – Narrow-leaf Ironweed in full bloom

                                        JUNE 2019 – Narrow-leaf Ironweed with Starry 
                                                       Rosinflower – lovely contrast




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