Vernonia - Summer Swan Song

Ironweed ‘Summer’s Swan Song’ 
Vernonia lettermannii x V. angustifolia ‘Plum Peachy’

Electrifying Purple Blooms!

Featuring the best of both plant parents, these beautiful hybrids of 2 US native species feature gorgeous electric-purple flowers above fine feathery foliage, with a mounding habit. They provide much-needed color as other plants have finished up for summer, and are pollinator magnets! 

Summer's Swan Song outperformed other Vernonias at Mt. Cuba's rigorous Plant Trials, with stronger resilience and more flowers.  Stunning massed, or nestle them among spring and early summer blooming flowers for an extended show. They can be grown in the ground or in containers.

Ideal for: Butterfly Gardens, Cottage Gardens, Flower Meadows, Native Gardens, Pollinator Gardens, and more!

🐝Pollinator Magnet! Whenever we try to photograph these blooming plants, they are supporting busy bees and little butterflies.

🛡️Natural disease resistance: good resistance to powdery mildew, rust.

🏆Award winning! 2027 Perennial Plant of the Year®, Top Performer at the Mt. Cuba Vernonia Trials. 

🌞Sunlight: best flowering in full sun (6-8 hours of direct sunlight).

These plants prefer moist, well-draining soil but once established, they can handle a variety of conditions.

36”T x 40”W. 

Zones 4-9, cold hardy down to -30F.

💚Plant Nerd: Vernonia ‘Summer’s Swan Song’ originated as a cross between V. lettermannii and V. angustifolia ‘Plum Peachy’ made by Dr. Jim Ault at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Vernonia species occur widely across the eastern and central United States. V. angustifolia is native to WNC and much of the US southeast, while V. lettermannii is rather rare, and native to western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma.

Vernonias are in the ever-forgiving Asteraceae family.