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 with Starry
Rosinflower – lovely contrast
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