Purple Pillar Ironweed

Vernonia gigantea 'Purple Pillar'

Regular price $16

Container size:
4.5 in. wide x 5 in. deep / 32 fl. oz.

More plants available in April 2024

Purple Pillar is a selection of giant ironweed with an upright habit and is the perfect plant for adding stature and attracting pollinators into the garden.

  • Tough and easy to grow
  • Sturdy stems
  • Butterfly favorite

Details

  • 7 to 10 ft. tall
  • 4 to 5 ft. wide
  • Long-lived perennial
  • Clump-forming – doesn’t spread and take over
  • Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9

Flowering period

In central North Carolina plants start blooming in early July and continues for four to six weeks.

How to grow

Ironweed is very adaptable and can grow in a wide variety of soil types. Prefers rich moist soil, but will thrive even in orange clay. Planting in full sun and shelter from strong winds will prevent having to stake plants. Plants can tolerate drought and periodic flooding with ease.

Care and maintenance

Cut the thick flowering stems down to the ground any time after a hard frost.

Where to plant

At the back of flower beds to add height and color to the summer garden. It is also at home in more informal plantings, like meadows, edges of ponds, and rain gardens.

When to plant

Whenever the ground is not frozen. Plants establish quickly and love the summer heat.

Spacing

3 to 4 feet apart when planting in a group.

When will my plant flower?

Plants purchased and planted before May will flower their first year if sited in a well-prepared spot and kept watered.

Native habitat and range

In the wild, Giant Ironweed grows in meadows, bottomlands, and along streambanks from New York and Michigan to Florida and Texas.

Source and origin

Plants are propagated here at the nursery by division.

States Orders up to $50 Orders $51 to $100 Orders over $100
AL, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV $16 $18 $20
AR, CT, FL, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WI $18 $20 $22
IA, KS, ME, MN, OK, and TX $20 $22 $24
CO, NE, ND, and SD $22 $24 $26

 

Sorry, we can't ship plants outside of the continental United States or to AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA due to agriculture restrictions.

When will my order be shipped?

All plants are shipped within two weeks of placing an order.

Is it okay to plant in the winter?

Yes, as long as the soil is not frozen. Planting native perennials in winter and early spring gives your plants a head start before the summer heat arrives.

What if it’s too cold to plant where I live, but I want to buy a plant before it sells out?

Dormant plants can safely be kept in a basement, garage, or cool room until you are ready to plant in late winter or early spring.

How will my plants get delivered?

Most orders are shipped on Monday or Tuesday via UPS Ground, which depending on the destination takes between 1 to 4 days.

Are your plants shipped in their containers?

Yes, all our plants are shipped in their growing containers. The majority are grown in containers that are 4.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep and 32 fl. oz. / 946 ml in volume.

Do you guarantee your plants?

We guarantee our plants to be healthy, ready for planting and correctly named. We are not able to guarantee whether a plant will grow in your garden as there are too many circumstances that are beyond our control.
On rare occasions, a plant shipped dormant may fail to emerge from its dormancy. If this happens, please let us know. If you are concerned about a plant, please contact us within 14 days to let us know. If we can’t help you make it grow, we’ll send you a new plant or issue a refund.

Can I return my plants?

You can return your plants if you no longer want them once they arrive. To receive a refund (minus 20% restocking fee) the plants must be returned in good condition. Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility. 

Can I cancel my order?

Yes, you can cancel your order. Please visit our terms and service page for details.

What about sales tax?

We propagate our own plants and are not required to collect North Carolina sales tax.

Where can I find information about your plants?

Here are some FAQ on how we grow plants.