Authentic Wisconsin.  Ironweed - Vernonia gigantea


Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.


Above: Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline in Madison, Wisconsin. (9/14/20).


Tall Ironweed - Vernonia gigantea/Vernonia altissima

Tall Ironweed is not common in Wisconsin and is not referenced on the USDA U.S. Forest Service map as being a Wisconsin native.

Tall Ironweed grows from 5 feet - 9 1/2 feet tall. The plants photographed in Madison, Wisconsin were within this height range with most reaching 9 feet in height. The plants were growing in a drainage ditch along an old railroad track converted to a bke path.

The central stem is light green or purplish green. The flowers are purple/magenta and blooms from late July through September. The nectar of the flowers attracts butterflies, skippers, and various bees. Personal note: I've never seen so many Monarch Butterflies in such a concentrated area in Wisconsin. There were hundreds of Monarchs alighting on Tall Ironweed blossoms all within 50 yards.

Other names: Giant Ironweed, Ironweed.

Tall Ironweed stalk in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 30, 2020.


Above: Tall Ironweed stalk along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline in Madison, Wisconsin. (9/20/20).


NOTE: Common Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) is native to Wisconsin. It is a smaller plant with thinner leaves.

For more information on the Tall Ironweed, visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Common Ironweed - Vernonia fasciculata.


Monarch on Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.
Tall Ironweed stalk in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.
Tall Ironweed stalk in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 30, 2020.
Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 30, 2020.
Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on July 31, 2021.
Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 2, 2021.
Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 2, 2021.
Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 2, 2021.
Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 3, 2021.
Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August3, 2021.

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Wisconsin Wildflowers


Ironweed
Vernonia gigantea


Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Streetnear Commonwealth Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin on August3, 2021.

Above: Common Ironweed along bikepath behind Gregory Street near Commonwealth Ave. in Madison, Wisconsin. (8/3/1).


Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.

Monarch on Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 14, 2020.

Above: Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline in Madison, Wisconsin. (9/14/20).


Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline on September 15, 2020.

Above: Tall Ironweed in drainage ditch along bikepath between Midvale Blvd. and the Beltline in Madison, Wisconsin. (9/15/20).


Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) illustration by Alice Lounsberry circa 1899.

Above: Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) illustration by Alice Lounsberry circa 1899.


Ironweed.

Above: Ironweed.



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