Did you think August was too late to add some color to your garden? Well, think again. While summer may be winding down, there is still time to plant flowers that will bloom well into the fall. One great choice for gardeners craving a splash of rich purple is ironweed (Veronia). With its tall and elegant green stems and clusters of small but vibrant purple flowers, this plant can thrive even when other flowers start to fade.
Ironweed is a perennial that blooms from July to October, so it can provide you with color well into the fall. This plant, native to parts of the United States, grows in Hardiness Zones 4-9 and has deep purple flowers that pollinators love because of their nectar. If you’re looking to start a pollinator garden that lasts past summer, ironweed is sure to help bring bees and butterflies around. They’re also perfect as a way to attract hummingbirds into your yard up until they migrate south in October. In addition, ironweed is a beautiful ornamental plant that deer will leave alone because of its bitterness. Honestly, what is there not to love about ironweed?
These stunning plants have a bit of a wildflower look that gardeners seek when trying to achieve the meadowscaping look in their gardens. If you’re looking for a cottagecore, wildflower garden aesthetic, ironweed and its long stems and large green leaves will make a great addition to your flower mix.
Read more: The Low-Maintenance Hanging Basket Flower That Can Take The Heat And Adds Beauty To Your Patio
How To Plant Ironweed For Fall Flowers
ironweed purple flowers on green foliage – Karel Bock/Shutterstock
If you’d like to plant ironweed and enjoy blooms this fall, your best bet is to stop by a nursery and pick up a few starter plants to transplant into your garden right away. Do this in late August, and you’ll be blessed with some gorgeous purple flowers right through the end of September. Another option is to sow seeds directly in the soil during fall or winter, just before the first frosts arrive in your region. Just keep in mind that this method is not for impatient gardeners. Ironweed grown from seeds typically needs about two years to establish its roots and finally burst into flowers.
Whether you’re using seeds or nursery plants, choose a sunny spot in your garden and space each plant about four feet apart to give them plenty of room to grow and spread out. Ironweed isn’t that fussy; it can thrive in clay, sand, and loam soils as long as they’re moist and well-draining. In the wild, you’d find ironweed near bodies of water like ponds, lakes, or rivers. It’s natural, then, that they prefer having consistent access to water in the garden, too.
There are also several species to choose from, each with its own little personality based on its native habitat. Western ironweed, native to regions between Texas and Nebraska, handles drier conditions well. Appalachian ironweed, on the other hand, loves more water and does especially well in clay soils. And then there’s New York ironweed, a versatile middle-ground option that’s happy with different watering levels and even some partial shade.
Enjoyed this article? Get expert home tips, DIY guides, and design inspiration by signing up to the House Digest newsletter!
Read the original article on House Digest.
Comments are closed.