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Missouri ironweed

Vernonia missurica

Other common name(s):

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2
to
6
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Poor Drainage

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium, High

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland, Variable

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

The plant spreads primarily from its fibrous rhizomatous roots but also produces seeds that are generally wind-dispersed and will germinate further from the parent plant given suitable conditions. Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun. Tolerates periodic flooding. Great for pollinator gardens. Propagation: Seed. Root division.

Comments

Blooms July-September. Clusters of purple flowers bloom at top of stems. Flower lacks the ray flowers typical of plants in this family; its flowers are made up of disc flowers only. Narrow, lance-shaped to narrow oval leaves. Stems and leaves are hairy. Typically occurs in moist open ground along streams, wooded swamps, low meadows, prairies, fields and waste places. Tends to hybridize with other native ironweeds. Important pollinator plant for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. The reddish-brown seed clusters, attract late-season songbirds.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Vernonia aborigina

References

1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VEMI2; 2) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38643#null; 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4757&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 4) https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277486&isprofile=0&cv, 5) https://santafebotanicalgarden.org/plant-of-the-month-october-2023/

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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