Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Western Ironweed

Vernonia baldwinii

Other common name(s):

Baldwin's Ironweed, Ironweed

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
5
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Riparian, Woodland Edge

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Purple, Red

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Maintenance

Once established, Western Ironweed can colonize by rhizomes. Best in natural areas and large meadows where large colonies can be appreciated. Tough, drought tolerant. Needs well-drained conditions. Leave stems until spring to provide nesting habitat for tunnel-nesting bees. Native habitat: open woods, fields, disturbed places, grasslands, flood plains, forest margins, prairies.

Description

Blooms July-November. A tall, erect plant with stout and hairy stems. Long, lance-shaped leaves, with serrated edges, grow along the entire length of the stem. The flowers are clusters of red-violet disc flowers that form at the ends of short branches near the top of the plant. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment In the spring once the ground has warmed up, scatter seeds directly onto the soil surface in a well-prepared bed. Lightly rake the soil to cover the seeds and water them thoroughly. Ironweed seeds need sunlight to germinate, so don’t cover them deeply. They generally germinate within 2-4 weeks. Another method is to fill a seed starting tray or pots with a well-draining seed-starting mix. Moisten the mix with water until it is damp but not waterlogged. Sow the seeds on the surface and press them gently into the soil for good seed-to-soil contact, but do not bury them, as they need light to germinate. Cover the tray or pots with a clear plastic lid or plastic wrap to maintain humidity around the seeds, then ensure the soil stays moist. Place the seed tray or pots in a bright, indirect light or use grow lights to provide the appropriate light levels for germination. Collect the seed once the flowers have fluffed out and produced a white “pappus” – the fluffy parachute-like appendage that helps a seed fly. Usually this happens around October. Allow the seed heads to dry completely before storing in a paper envelope in a cool, dry location.The sooner you sow your seeds, the better their chance at germinating. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-vernonia-baldwinii/ 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Vernonia_baldwinii.html 3) https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/grow-ironweed/
Clump Division Separate the plant into smaller divisions, each having a healthy root system and several shoots. Dividing the roots too small can impede their ability to establish themselves after transplanting, which may lead to a poor survival rate. Larger divisions tend to recover and grow more vigorously. Plant the divisions into well-prepared soil, spacing them according to the mature size of the plant. Water well and provide adequate sunlight. The best time to divide Ironweed is in early spring or late summer, while the plant is actively growing. Dig up the plant carefully, being sure to loosen the soil around the root ball. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-vernonia-baldwinii/ 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Vernonia_baldwinii.html
Stem Cutting Remove the leaves from the bottom 2 inches of the stem. Next, dip the cut end of the stem into rooting hormone powder, which will encourage the development of roots. Place the stem cutting into a pot filled with a well-draining soil mix, such as a mixture of peat moss and perlite. Water the cutting thoroughly and place it in a warm and bright location, but not in direct sunlight. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. After about 4-6 weeks, you should start to see roots developing from the cutting. Once roots have formed, you can transplant the new plant into a larger pot or into your garden, taking care not to disturb the roots too much. Take a stem cutting from a healthy and mature plant approximately 4-6 inches in length and taken from the top of the plant. https://plantiary.com/plant/vernonia-baldwinii_19381.html

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason