Summer's Swan Song Ironweed

Summer's Swan Song Ironweed is a compact answer to the towering stature of many straight species ironweeds. Fine foliage forms a broad, dense mound before clusters of intense purple flowers open from late summer into fall. Bees, butterflies, and other insects gather on the blooms at a time when late-season nectar becomes increasingly valuable.

This selection combines North American native Vernonia species and retains the toughness that makes the genus so useful in ecological gardens. It performs best in sun and ordinary garden soil, tolerates drought once established, and has shown excellent disease resistance. Cultivar-specific larval-host use is not well documented, so its strongest demonstrated ecological role is as a nectar and pollen source.

• Grow in full sun for the densest habit and heaviest flowering.
• Established plants are drought tolerant, but occasional water during severe dry spells can improve flowering.
• Cut old stems down in late winter or early spring.