{"title":"Vernonia","description":"\u003cp\u003eVernonia (Ironweed) is a wonderful and easy-to-grow sun perennial. The genus \u003cem\u003eVernonia\u003c\/em\u003e is a large one, with about 1000 species and it lives in a large plant family, Asteraceae. Vernonia provides nice summer color, late season height, and \u003ca title=\"see more butterfly attracting plants\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/butterfly-garden-plants-flowers-that-attract-butterflies\"\u003eattracts butterflies and hummingbirds\u003c\/a\u003e into the perennial garden. We continue to trial an array of species for their garden value.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eVernonia (Ironweed) Growing Conditions\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eVernonia are incredibly tough plants found in the wild in both the US and around the world, hence the common name ironweed. They are heat and humidity tolerant, dry and lean soils tolerant, and produce clusters of purple flowers in the late summer. The cultivars selected for garden use have stronger stems for less flopping as they mature. The airy purple flowers of ironweed look best in drifts, along the back of the border or mixed with yellow or white flowering perennials. Vernonia has a bitter taste and is usually avoided by herbivores like deer. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"vernonia-angustifolia-plum-peachy","title":"Vernonia angustifolia Plum Peachy","description":"\u003cp\u003e(aka: Vernonia angustifolia A2GA-003B) In 1998, we found this wonderful selection of the Southeast native (NC to Mississippi), Vernonia angustifolia, growing on a grit outcrop in Turner Co., Georgia. Despite being discovered and named by the famed plant explorer, Andre Michaux, more than 200 years ago, narrow-leaf ironweed is surprisingly absent in horticulture. The robust 4' tall stalks of narrow, green \u003ca title=\"amsonia\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/amsonia\"\u003eamsonia\u003c\/a\u003e-like leaves are topped, starting in July (NC), with 8\" wide, branched, airy flower heads of dark purple flowers...an attractive target for hummingbirds. This 2006 Plant Delights\/JLBG introduction holds its large flower heads upright better than any of the others we have trialed.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21027217477,"sku":"6206","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Vernonia-angustifolia-Plum-Peachy.i-6206.s-64976.r-1.jpg?v=1791976994"},{"product_id":"vernonia-gigantea-jonesboro-giant","title":"Vernonia gigantea Jonesboro Giant","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhile driving through Jonesboro, Arkansas in 2000, I spotted this selection of giant ironweed. Most of the clones of Vernonia gigantea had fallen over due to their height and flower head weight, but this clone stayed wonderfully upright. Cuttings were taken, and we are pleased to report it has also remained vertical in our garden trials. Vernonia 'Jonesboro Giant', a 2006 Plant Delights\/JLBG introduction, forms a clump of 10-12' tall stems, clothed in dark green leaves and topped with large clusters of \u003ca title=\"Shop our perennials with dark purple flowers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/purple-flowers-lavender-flowers\"\u003edark purple flowers\u003c\/a\u003e starting in mid-August...attractive to hummingbirds. The giant clumps sway a bit in the breeze, but so does the Sears Tower. Warning lights may be required in some jurisdictions...please check local flight path maps.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21027510853,"sku":"6548","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Vernonia-gigantea-Jonesboro-Giant.i-6548.s-15837.r-1.jpg?v=1790345994"},{"product_id":"vernonia-lettermanii","title":"Vernonia lettermanii","description":"\u003cp\u003eVernonia lettermanii is a fascinating ironweed that hails from Arkansas and Oklahoma where it can be found in rocky soils and on rock outcrops. Imagine taking an \u003ca title=\"Amsonia hubrichtii\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/products\/amsonia-hubrichtii\"\u003eAmsonia hubrichtii\u003c\/a\u003e, shrinking it to 2' tall x 2' wide, shearing it into a round ball, then topping it with hundreds of purple flowers in August and early September, and you have Vernonia lettermanii...a hummingbird delight. We grow this in our hot, dry, crevice garden where it has caused visitors to lust in their hearts. We give in...here it is. This rare native was named for the late botanist George Letterman who, as best we can determine, never had his own television show.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21027568389,"sku":"6670","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Vernonia-lettermanii.i-6670.s-60918.r-1.jpg?v=1791919487"},{"product_id":"vernonia-violet-night-ppaf","title":"Vernonia Violet Night PPAF","description":"\u003cp\u003eVernonia 'Violet Night' is the first ironweed introduction from Hans Hansen's work at Walters Gardens. We love this dense grower, that tops out at 4' tall, with a comparable width. Both Vernonia angustifolia and Vernonia lettermanii are known parents. The clumps are topped with masses of purple flower clusters, along with a huge array of pollinators, starting for us in late July (NC).\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41907028459607,"sku":"18529","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Vernonia-Violet-Night-PPAF.i-18529.s-68209.r-1.jpg?v=1791978324"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/collections\/Vernonia-lettermanii-1900x350.jpg?v=1689004766","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/vernonia.oembed","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}