Verbesina alternifolia (Linnaeus) Britton ex Kearney. Common name: Common Wingstem. Phenology: (Jul-) Aug-Sep (-Oct). Habitat: Alluvial forests, marshes, floodplain pastures. Distribution: NY and s. ON west to IA, south to Panhandle FL, w. LA, and nc. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl7, FNA21, G, GrPl, GW2, K4, Mi, Mo2, NcTx, NE, NY, Oh3, Pa, RAB, SE1, Tn, Tx, Va, WH3, WV; = Actinomeris alternifolia (L.) Benth. — F, Il, Tat; = Ridan alternifolia (L.) Britton — S; Coreopsis alternifolia Linnaeus. Basionym: Coreopsis alternifolia L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Verbesina alternifolia - FNA21
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Floyd A. Griffith | Original Image ⭷
© Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Floyd A. Griffith | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial found in alluvial forests, marshes and floodplain pastures.
Stems: Stems branched in inflorescence, usually winged, smooth or hairy.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, short petiolate to sessile, lance-shaped, to 10 in. long, mostly entire, rough-hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, open, branching terminal cluster; heads to 2 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 2-10 drooping, yellow ray florets (1/3-1 in. long each) encircling a domed center disk of greenish-yellow, tubular florets.
Fruits: Fruit a spherical head of sometimes winged achenes.
Comments: Note the similarity to Verbesina occidentalis, which has opposite, more broadly oval leaves and typically fewer ray florets.
Height: 3-9 ft.
plant sale text: Common wingstem is a tall, multi-stemmed perennial found in the piedmont and mountains of NC. It prefers moist woodland slopes, riverbanks and fields.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial found in alluvial forests, marshes and floodplain pastures.
stems: Stems branched in inflorescence, usually winged, smooth or hairy.
leaves: Leaves alternate, short petiolate to sessile, lance-shaped, to 10 in. long, mostly entire, rough-hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, open, branching terminal cluster; heads to 2 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 2-10 drooping, yellow ray florets (1/3-1 in. long each) encircling a domed center disk of greenish-yellow, tubular florets.
fruits: Fruit a spherical head of sometimes winged achenes.
comments: Note the similarity to Verbesina occidentalis, which has opposite, more broadly oval leaves and typically fewer ray florets.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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