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Vernonia gigantea (Walter) Trelease ex Branner & Coville. Common name: Common Ironweed, Giant Ironweed. Phenology: Late Aug-Oct; Aug-Nov. Habitat: Pastures, bottomlands, streamsides, moist thickets, roadsides, disturbed wet or dry sands. Distribution: W. NY, s. MI and e. NE south to SC, FL, and TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, GrPl, Mi, NcTx, NY, Pa, POWO, Tn, Va, W; = n/a — Tat; = Vernonia altissima Nutt. — G, RAB, Tx, WV; = Vernonia gigantea (Walter) Trel. ssp. gigantea — Mo2, Oh3, SE1, Urbatsch (1972); = Vernonia gigantea (Walter) Trel. var. gigantea — C; > Vernonia altissima Nutt. — S; > Vernonia altissima Nutt. var. altissima — F; > Vernonia altissima Nutt. var. taeniotricha S.F.Blake — F; < Vernonia gigantea (Walter) Trel. ex Branner & Coville — Fl7, FNA19, K4, WH3; > Vernonia gigantea (Walter) Trel. ex Branner & Coville — S; > Vernonia gigantea (Walter) Trel. var. gigantea — Il; > Vernonia gigantea (Walter) Trel. var. taeniotricha — Il, nomen nudum; Chrysocoma gigantea Walter. Basionym: Chrysocoma gigantea Walter 1788

Links to other floras: < Vernonia gigantea - FNA19

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Eric Keith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric Keith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric Keith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric Keith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of pastures, bottomlands and stream sides.

Stems: Stems stout, ribbed, hairy or smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, lance-shaped, to 12 in. long, sharply toothed, typically rough-hairy beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, loose, branched terminal clusters; heads magenta, about 3/4 in. wide, consisting of 12-30 spreading, tubular florets with 5 spreading linear corolla lobes and a protruding style. Tiny purplish-green, blunt tipped bracts surround the bell-shaped base of each head.

Fruits: Fruit a cluster of rusty-tufted achenes.

Comments: An excellent nectar source for butterflies and bees.

Height: 3-10 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of pastures, bottomlands and stream sides.

stems: Stems stout, ribbed, hairy or smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, lance-shaped, to 12 in. long, sharply toothed, typically rough-hairy beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, loose, branched terminal clusters; heads magenta, about 3/4 in. wide, consisting of 12-30 spreading, tubular florets with 5 spreading linear corolla lobes and a protruding style. Tiny purplish-green, blunt tipped bracts surround the bell-shaped base of each head.

fruits: Fruit a cluster of rusty-tufted achenes.

comments: An excellent nectar source for butterflies and bees.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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