(Vernonia baldwinii)
Western Ironweed

Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii)

Alternative Names

Baldwin’s Ironweed

Description of Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii)

Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii), a member of the Asteraceae (Aster Family), is a herbaceous perennial that grows from 2′ to 6′ tall and blooms, with pink to purple flowers in the spring and early fall (May to September).  This plant grows in places with full sun to partial-sun in well-drained soil.

Hosted Species

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)

Nectar Species

This species is a nectar source to other butterflies, skippers, bees, and wasps during the growing season.  Birds, such as goldfinch, like to eat the seeds in the fall.

Habitat

This ironweed grows in places with full sun to part-sun having well-drained soil.  In the wild, it grows in open areas such as fields, railroads, pastures, prairies, floodplains, and the moist soils of creek and river banks.

Range of Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii) in the United States and Canada

Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii) is native to the mid-western United States.

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Vernonia, is in honor of William Vernon, an English botanist.  The species name, baldwinii, is in honor of William Baldwin, who originally collected the plant and was an American botanist and physician (Wikipedia).