Iron Weed

The purple flowers here are Iron Weed, Vernonia altissima aka gigantea, one of the first natives I added to my gardens.  My Iron Weed is well over seven feet tall.  This stem was bent over by an early wind and rain storm.  The purple flowers are quite striking, and come at a wonderful time, late summer into fall.  The stems are also tinted purple, and the leaves are a dark leathery green.  It is very popular with the pollen and nectar gatherer.  There were spotted skippers on it this afternoon, and bees and others visit it continuously. Mine is growing at the end of my driveway next to the carport where it receives strong morning sun then shade until late in the afternoon.  It is called Iron Weed because of the toughness of the stems and the difficulty in digging it up.  In some parts of the country it is considered a field and pasture weed, very difficult to control mechanically or chemically.  In the garden it performs very reliable and does not spread, forming a neat clump instead.  I have left the stalks through the winter for the birds, and have not had any self sown plants appear, unlike some of my other natives, although they are supposed to be easy to start from seed.  They need a cold period (stratification) and light, so don't cover the seeds. The white flowers are Large Leafed Aster, covered later with the other fall flowers.