Vernonia 'Southern Cross'
Vernonia 'Southern Cross', commonly known as Ironweed, provides vibrant purple, flat-topped flower clusters atop upright stems late in the season, typically blooming in August and September. Its soft, needle-shaped foliage forms a neat cushion, and the persistent seed heads offer winter interest. This perennial is known for its strong constitution and rigid stems, thriving in low-maintenance settings like rain gardens and perennial borders. It is ecologically beneficial, attracting late-season pollinators and providing seeds for birds. Compact cultivars like this one are excellent additions to cottage gardens, offering reliable late-summer color.
$16.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.4
/ 5
Category Rank
2589
/ 3268
#2589 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-39%
Below average
Who it's for
- Essential Late-Season Color
- Exceptional Durability and Resilience
- Magnet for Pollinators
Who should skip it
- Requires Strategic Siting or Staking
- Vigorous Spreading Habit
- Limited Early-Season Interest
Features
- Offers vibrant purple color late in the season when other perennials fade
- Seed heads persist after bloom, adding winter garden interest
- Foliage is a larval food source and seeds feed birds
- Tolerant of both dry conditions and periodic inundation
- Compact cultivar suitable for borders and cottage gardens
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the Vernonia 'Southern Cross' plants received. They arrive healthy and well packaged, establishing quickly in the garden. The primary theme is reliability; this perennial provides a stunning, dependable burst of color late in the season when other flowers fade. Gardeners find it a robust, low maintenance addition, justifying the investment through its consistent performance year after year.
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$17