Western Ironweed

Vernonia baldwinii

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Baldwin's Ironweed, Ironweed

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Native Habitat: Grassland

Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies

Maintenance

Once established, Western Ironweed can colonize by rhizomes. Great for gardens with lots of space. Tough, drought tolerant. Fall: Few seeds are fertile, so sow thickly when soil temperature is warm. May also propagate by root division and softwood tip cuttings. Spring: Leave stems till spring to provide nesting habitat for tunnel-nesting bees. Woolly: Needs well-drained conditions. Fall: Collect seed when it comes loose easily.

Comments

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.

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3 to

5 ft

Spread

1 to

2 ft

Soil Type(s)

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

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Red, Purple

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Visit us at https://npsot.org

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

Native Plant Society of Texas