Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly'

Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly' is a well-branched, shorter Ironweed that’s beautiful massed in meadows and mixed borders. Plants can really take the heat, and they tolerate dry soils, too.

Vernonia is a large genus of perennials, shrubs, and trees in the Asteraceae (Aster) family. Originating in the Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia, they have a long history of use as food and medicine. Of the 30-plus herbaceous perennial species and subspecies native to the American East, Midwest, and Mexico, a few are excellent, ecologically beneficial, garden plants. Commonly called Ironweed, doubtlessly for its strong constitution and rigid stems, native Vernonias grow in some tough conditions. They tower over prairies and wet meadows, inhabit gravel bars in streams, sprout from rocky crevices in drainage areas, and thrive in roadside ditches. Tolerant of both dry conditions and periodic inundation, compact Vernonia cultivars are ideal for planting in low-maintenance rain gardens, meadows, native plant gardens, and perennial borders. Loose, feathery flower clusters packed with vivid magenta or purple, tubular disk florets are late-season pollinator powerhouses; foliage is a larval food source and seeds from rust-colored seedheads provide nourishment for birds.

For information on growing and care, click Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

Latin Name Pronunciation: ver-no' nee-ah

Vernonia is a large genus of perennials, shrubs, and trees in the Asteraceae (Aster) family. Thirty-plus native North American species and subspecies with great ecological value are tolerant of both dry conditions and periodic inundation. Compact Vernonia lettermannii cultivars and hybrids are ideal for low-maintenance landscapes and pollinator gardens.

Light: Best in full sun (or partial shade in the South).

Soil: Grows naturally in gravelly or sandy poor soil, adapts well to average, moderately well-drained garden soil.

Watering: Once established, little supplemental water is needed, except in severe drought, as plants tolerate both drought and periodic water inundation and may splay open late in the season if kept continuously wet.

Fertilizing: An occasional light application of compost is beneficial, but fertilizer is not recommended, as Vernonia does best without excess fertility.

Seasonal Care: Vernonia is late to emerge in spring, so mark its location well when planting. Cut plants back by half in early summer to promote strong dense growth. Allow plants to stand through the winter – they remain attractive and sustain seed-eating birds – and cut back to the ground in early spring.

Pests/Diseases: Garden cultivars are unlikely to be affected by pests or diseases. Mature plants have somewhat bitter leaves that are relatively unappealing to deer.

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Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].