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Western Ironweed

Vernonia baldwinii

Other common name(s):

Baldwin's Ironweed, Ironweed

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
5
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Rocky, Limestone, Caliche, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red, Purple

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

Once established, Western Ironweed can colonize by rhizomes. Great for gardens with lots of space, otherwise it can take over small areas. Tough, drought tolerant. Few seeds are fertile, so sow thickly when soil temperature is warm. May also propagate by root division and softwood tip cuttings. Leave stems till spring to provide nesting habitat for tunnel-nesting bees. Needs well-drained conditions. Propagation: Seed, Root division, Softwood cuttings.

Comments

Blooms July-November. Western Ironweed’s stems are stout and hairy. The flowers are vibrant clusters of red-violet blooms that form at the ends of short branches near the top of the plant.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 212. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VEBA. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Vernonia+baldwinii&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4745&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38622#null

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