Vernonia lettermanii

Late Night With Ironweed

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

Shop Available Vernonia
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Item #: 6670

Zones: 4a to 9b

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 24" tall

Culture: Sun

Origin: United States

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Vernonia 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 Amsonia hubrichtii, 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.