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Bransford, W.D. Mrs.
Vernonia baldwinii Torr.
Baldwin's ironweed, Western Ironweed, Ironweed
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
USDA Symbol: veba
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
Western ironweed’s 3-5 ft. stems occur singly or in clumps, and are stout and hairy. Wide clusters of vibrant, red-violet flowers form at the ends of short branches near the top of the plant. Because the flowers are all of the disk variety, the 6 in. wide flower cluster has a fuzzy appearance. Long, lance-shaped leaves line the stems.
This plant aggressively colonizes by rhizomes once established so place accordingly. Its bloom period lasts until frost.
View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , PurpleBloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Distribution
USA: AR , CO , IL , IA , KS , LA , MN , MO , NE , NM , OK , SD , TXNative Distribution: S.c. IL to NE, s. to LA & TX
Native Habitat: Disturbed sites; open woods; fields
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Rocky or sandy soils. Clay, Clay Loam, Medium Loam, Sandy Loam, Sandy, Limestone-based, Caliche type
Conditions Comments: Best in natural areas and large meadows where large colonies can be appreciated. Can be rampant colonizer when planted in garden soils. Roots travel in all directions from plant about one foot deep. Difficult to control once plant is well established. Bloom period lasts from summer until frost.
Texas comments: Western ironweed does best in natural areas and large meadows where large colonies can be appreciated. It can be a rampant colonizer when planted in garden soils. The roots travel in all directions about one foot deep. It can be difficult to control once plant is well established. Its bloom period lasts from summer until frost.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Pocket prairieConspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Deer Resistant: High
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Few seeds are fertile, so sow thickly when soil temperature is warm. May also be propagated by root division and softwood tip cuttings.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Bibliography
Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, S.McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
* Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
* Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Vernonia baldwinii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Vernonia baldwinii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vernonia baldwinii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2009-02-18Research By: LAL
