With its fine, threadlike foliage and late-season color, Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly' is an easy way to add texture and pollinator activity to sunny beds. Your Narrowleaf Ironweed 'Iron Butterfly' forms a tidy, upright clump that reaches about 30-36 inches tall and roughly as wide, then finishes summer with rounded clusters of purple blooms that draw butterflies and other beneficial insects.

Plant it where it will get full sun for the strongest stems and best flowering; it can also handle part shade, especially in hotter climates. Give it well-drained soil, and once established it is happiest when soil is not constantly wet. If your site is heavy or slow to drain, improve drainage with organic matter and avoid low spots where water collects.

Water regularly during the first growing season so roots develop deeply. After that, water during extended dry spells, but do not keep the soil soggy. This perennial is generally low maintenance: cut stems back in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Leaving the stems up through winter can add structure and interest. Space plants so air can move freely around the foliage, and avoid over-fertilizing, which can encourage softer growth. Use it in borders, naturalistic plantings, and mixed perennial beds where its fine foliage pairs well with broader-leaved companions.

Specifications

• Cold hardiness zone: 4-9 (-30 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
• Light: Full sun   Part sun
• Growth rate: Moderate
• Mature height: 30-36"
• Spread: 30-36"
• Tolerant of: Deer
• Attracts: Butterflies

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