Vernonia, Smooth Ironweed

Smooth Ironweed commands attention in the late-summer garden, its clusters of vivid reddish-purple blooms blazing above stout, upright stems at exactly the moment when many other perennials are winding down. Native to the prairies and bottomlands of the central United States, it reaches three to five feet tall and serves as an impressive vertical accent in naturalized plantings, rain gardens, or the back of a sunny border. Monarchs, swallowtails, and native bees absolutely mob the flowers through August and September, making it one of the most wildlife-rich perennials you can plant. As summer turns to fall, the seed heads attract songbirds and the stems take on warm copper-bronze tones before winter. Seldom bothered by deer, and tolerant of the variable soil conditions common in Midwest gardens, it pairs naturally with goldenrod, ornamental grasses, and asters. Plant it in bold drifts where its rich color and height can anchor the late-season border.