Happy Mystery Monday(ish!) Can you guess what is pictured in photo #1?
The answer to last week’s mystery is New York Ironweed, Vernonia noveboracensis, pictured in photo #2.
Standing tall in late Summer meadows, New York Ironweed, Vernonia noveboracensis, is one of the most striking native wildflowers of the Eastern Shore. Belonging to a genus that includes 17 species across North America, this hardy perennial is easily recognized by its tall purple flower clusters—composed entirely of disc florets rather than the daisy-like rays typical of many asters.
Ironweed blooms are a vital late-Summer resource, offering nectar and pollen to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Long-horned bees rely on it for pollen, and the American painted lady butterfly uses it as a host plant for its caterpillars. By Autumn, the tall, unbranched stems that seemed weedy all Summer are crowned with seed heads that glow in the early morning light.
Ironweed can be established either via underground rhizomes or seeds collected from wild plants. Though its seeds can be slow to germinate, often requiring a cold period and a bit of patience, ironweed is easy to grow once established. Found in moist meadows and lowlands, it adds height, color, and ecological value to any naturalized landscape.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
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