Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly' Threadleaf Ironweed
About Our Plants
Rare Roots ships live, growing plants in one-quart pots all over the continental US. The rare exception is our slightly smaller 3.5" inch pot, which will be labeled on a few product pages.
The plants are not guaranteed to be blooming when they arrive, and the foliage may need to be trimmed before shipping to fit them in the box safely.
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Our Guarantee:
Our plants are guaranteed to arrive safely in a suitable condition for planting. If they are damaged or if you have concerns, please inform us within 48 hours by sending pictures to info@rareroots.com. Even if you are planning to wait and see if it recovers, we need to document the damage on your order.
We are not able to offer warranties or extended guarantees on plants due to the sheer number of variables that can affect their growth and survival.
 
About Perennials:
Our plants are grown on our 30-acre outdoor nursery in Virginia (available by mail-order only). They are all considered "perennial" if planted within their preferred zone range.
Perennials planted in the coldest zone listed are considered "tender perennials", and may not overwinter in a severe winter. For example: if a plant is rated for zones 7-10, it would be a tender perennial in zone 7. It's best to plant these in spring or early summer, and preferably in a protected area (such as the South side of building).
You can find your growing zone here: [USDA website]
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Description
Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly' forms vigorous clumps of narrow stems with fine, feathery foliage that are topped by clusters of fluffy, true purple blooms at stem ends in late summer and early fall. Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly' foliage resembles that of Amsonia hubrichtii. The blooms are loved by butterflies and is very nice planted with grasses and other late summer blooming perennials.
Vernonia lettermannii, also known as Threadleaf Ironweed, is native to Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is typically found on gravel river bars and nearby rocky outcrops.
Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly' prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but is very tolerant of rough, sandy, infertile, dry soils and hot, dry locations. However, it can withstand occasional flooding. Rust resistant.
Characteristics
- Common Names: Ironweed
- Zones: 4-9
- Light Requirements: Full Sun to Light Shade
- Soil Preference: Prefers moist, well-drained soil
- Height at Maturity: 30-36"
- Width at Maturity: 36"
- Bloom Color: Purple
- Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall
Special Features
- Attracts: Butterflies. Hummingbirds. Pollinators.
- Tolerates: Clay Soil. Drought.
- Other Features:
Care and Growing Tips
Check out our blog for more gardening tips!
Shipping Info
 Any Order Placed Now Will Be Preorders For Spring 2026
We will ship plants in the spring by growing zone. We will update this page as soon as we have more information on specific shipping weeks for each zone. If you need your plants a certain week in the spring, please leave a note on your order on the checkout page. Thank you for your patience!
Our boxes come in four sizes: 1-count, 3-count, 6-count, and 12-count.
To get the best shipping rates per plant, try to fill a box of 3, 6, or 12. Shipping rates are calculated at checkout by weight, package size, and distance.
Our nursery is located in Virginia, and it can sometimes be costly to ship to the western US. Ground shipping is too slow cross-country for the plants to arrive safely, so our options are limited to faster shipping methods. We appreciate your understanding!
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We ship via UPS or USPS (the Post Office), and their ship rates are automatically generated through our site. We do not profit on shipping costs. We are working with these providers to get our customers the best rates possible.
All ship times are subject to change if extreme weather conditions are present here at the nursery or at the shipping destination.
Please note: Depending on the time of year, the foliage of the plants may be trimmed to fit into our shipping boxes. This could delay the flowering of the plant, but many perennials actually benefit from being cut back.
We are currently not able to ship to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and outside of the US.