Vernonia x Southern Cross (Ironweed)

Vernonias native to North America are somewhat weedy herbaceous perennials commonly known as ironweed. They are easily grown in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Plants will naturalize in the landscape by self-seeding. Remove flower heads before seed develops to avoid any unwanted self-seeding. Plants of one species will commonly hybridize with plants of another species in the wild, resulting in the creation of fertile hybrids (usually intermediate in characteristics between the parents) which are often difficult to identify because hybridization obscures the lines that traditionally distinguish one species from another.

‘Southern Cross’ is not known to spread from seed as readily as other ironweeds.