common ironweed

Plant Type

Herbaceous Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

3-5 ft. tall
3-6 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Occasional Flooding

Inolerant of

Dry Soil

Propagation

By seed, By cutting, By division

Plant Planting Notes

Spreads quickly and is best used in larger garden areas.

Plants/Diseases

May experience aphid infestations.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Host plant for butterfly larvae

Leaves

Leaves alternate, oblanceolate with serrate margins; up to 6 inches long.

Flowers

Showy purple flowers with ray and disc flowers arranged in a panicle.

Fruit

Achene.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

USDA Hardiness Zones

5, 6, 7, 8

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0), Basic (greater than 8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Disturbed areas such old fields and pastures as well as stream sides, roadsides, and bottomlands.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Rare in the South Carolina coastal plain, sandhills, and piedmont. Absent from the mountains.