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(Vernonia fasciculata)
Prairie Ironweed

Host Species: American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis)

Nectar Plant: many insects including other butterflies, bees, and wasps. Birds, enjoy the seeds in the fall.

Flower Color: magenta to purple

Growth Habit: herbaceous perennial

Flowering Time: May to September

Range in North America: Mid-western United States and Manitoba in Canada

Exposure: Prefers full sun

Hardiness: Zones 4-9

Soil Requirements: Medium to Moist Soil

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Prairie Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)

Plant of prairie ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) with flowers and seed heads.
Plant of Prairie Ironweed with flowers and seed heads — Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternative Names

Smooth Ironweed, Western Ironweed, and Common Ironweed

Description of Prairie Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)

Prairie Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata), a member of the Asteraceae (Aster Family), is a herbaceous perennial that grows from 2′ to 6′ tall and blooms with magenta to purple flowers in the spring and early fall (May to September).  This plant grows in places with full sun in medium to moist soil.  In a garden setting this plant can handle drier conditions and partial-sun.  More information on this species can be found on this blog post.

Hosted Species

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)

American lady butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis) on white flower.
American Lady butterfly on white flower — ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Some moths, such as the Parthenice Tiger Moth (Grammia parthenice) and the Red Groundling (Perigea xanthoides) (Illinois Wildflowers) feed on this plant.

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 having medium to moist soil.  In the wild, it grows in open areas such as moist prairies, low wet ground, fen margins, bottomland forests, pastures, and meadows.

Range of Prairie Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) in the United States and Canada

Range map of prairie ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) in the United States and Canada.

 

Prairie Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) is native to the mid-western United States and is adventive in New York and Massachusetts.

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Vernonia, is in honor of William Vernon, an English botanist.  The species name, fasciculata, derives from fascicle, meaning a bundle.

Hosted Insects

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)

Native Location

Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Exposure Requirements

Full Sun

Plant Habit

Herbaceous

Soil Requirements

Medium, Moist

Hosted Species

Vanessa virginiensis (American Lady)

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Prairie Ironweed”

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