Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Mar 1, 2018 7:23 PM concerning plant:
Ironweeds are similar to Joe-Pye-Weeds but have more open flower clusters with flowers, all disc flowers, in deeper purple color, and more slender, alternate leaves. The native range of this species is from Massachusetts to New York to Ohio and then southward into north Florida. This species is supposed to have hair-like tips on the bracts of the flowers. It usually grows about 4 to 6 feet high but can grow up to 8 feet. Its alternate leaves get to be 6 to 10 inches long and are downy hairy beneath. The stems can be smooth or with stiff hairs. The flower clusters are loosely branched, not dense, and about 3 to 4 inches wide. It is fairly common in the meadows of southeast Pennsylvania. It is very attractive to a good number of butterflies and other pollinators as it blooms in July into September. It is sold by a good number of native plant nurseries in the eastern US. The name "Ironweed" comes from the stems being tough. It makes a fine perennial in the garden. It is recommended that as a garden perennial, it should be dug up and divided every 3 to 4 years. Unlike the Smooth Ironweed, this species does not bear rhizomes, underground stems. To keep the plant shorter and more compact, on can prune it down to 2 feet high in late spring.
