Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vernonia noveboracensis

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′.  New York Ironweed.  Terminal clusters of fuzzy, thistle-like deep purple florets bloom in late summer.  Strong stems have whorls of alternate, lanceolate, pointed leaves.  Earns its name because of its “iron-like” qualities – tough stems, the rusty-tinged colour of fading flowers and the rusty colour of the persistent, ripe seed heads.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 for 3 months, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Vernonia arkansana (syn. V. crinata)

Family: (Asteraceae)

P) to 5′.  A statuesque Ironweed from the Ozark region of Missouri, producing tufts of fuzzy, deep purple, rayless flowers in late summer on tall, strong stems covered in minute fine white hairs with long, lance-like leaves in large whorls.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & T1 for 3 months, then T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Solidago caesia

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′. Blue-stemmed Goldenrod. Eastern North America. A plant of the woodland edge and clearings. Graceful, arching, bluish tinged stems with small, golden yellow flowers clustered in the leaf axils. The narrow, dark green, lance-shaped leaves are sharply toothed and slightly hairy. Blooms August through September. Well-drained soil. Partial shade. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Senna marilandica (syn. Cassia marilandica)

Family: (Caesalpiniaceae)

(P) to 6′.  Southern Wild Senna.  Eastern North America.  Very similar to the above, the flowers of Senna marilandica have styles with short appressed hairs, while the flowers of Senna hebecarpa have styles with long spreading hairs.  Southern Wild Senna, because its range doesn’t extend as far north as a closely related species, Senna hebecarpa (Wild Senna). Blooms from July to September.  Well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  1 & 3 & T3

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