The harvesting season for Vernonia gigantea typically begins in July and continues through October.
giant ironweed
Vernonia gigantea
Giant Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is an iconic tall plant of prairies and fields with striking purple-pink flowers. Growing up to 6 feet tall, this giant wildflower produces large flowers in late summer that are attractive to pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths. Its deeply divided leaves are oblong and sharply toothed. The showy blooms attract a wide array of pollinators, further increasing its value in the natural landscape. This long blooming plant is an asset to any wildflower garden.
Cycle:
Herbaceous Perennial
Watering:
Frequent
Propagation:
Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
5 - 8
Flowers:
Rose purple Flowers
Sun:
Full sun,part shade
Fruits:
purple,black Fruits Ready In Fall
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
High
Maintenance:
Low
Drought Tolerant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Invasive:
Yes
watering
Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that prefers moist soil conditions and moderate to regular watering. During the growing season, water deeply and slowly (so the water can penetrate several inches) once per week, or more often if necessary during dry periods. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. During the winter months, reduce the frequency to once a month or less.
sunlight
Giant ironweed requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive. This is optimal during the summer when the sun is high in the sky, providing more intense amounts of radiation and heat. During the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, the plant will need more sunlight exposure in order to make up for the decrease in intensity. The plant may even need up to 8-10 hours of direct sunlight a day depending on its location and the severity of the winter season.
pruning
Pruning giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) should be done in March or April, once the plant has finished flowering. Pruning this plant should be limited to removing dead flower stalks and thinning out excess plant material to maintain its size and shape. It is important to not take off too much of the foliage as this can reduce the structural stability of the plant. Pruning should be limited to removing no more than 1-third of the foliage and stems. Additionally, any weak, damaged, or diseased stems should also be removed from the plant.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit
Starts Flowering
Vernonia gigantea typically starts flowering in July.
Harvest Fruit
The harvesting season for Vernonia gigantea typically begins in July and continues through October.
