Vernonia 'Southern Cross' 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.
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 right away by emailing 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]
Description
Vernonia x lettermanii 'Southern Cross' is a relatively short, vase-shaped, hybrid variety growing only 3'-4' tall, with simple, narrow leaves on stiff, upright stems. It is topped in fall by showy, flat-topped clusters of bright purple, fringe-like flowers that create an airy dome of color.
Vernonia is a widespread North American native perennial that is found in most of the United States east of the Rockies. V. lettermanii is found in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The other parent(s) of this cross is unknown. With its fine foliage and upright stems, 'Southern Cross' resembles Amsonia hubrichtii when not in bloom.
Vernonia 'Southern Cross' prefers full sun and average, well-drained, fertile to poor soil. It is drought tolerant once established.
Characteristics
- Common Names: Ironweed
- Zones: 4-9
- Light Requirements: Full Sun to Light Shade
- Soil Preference: Average, well-drained
- Height at Maturity: 54
- Width at Maturity: 48
- Bloom Color: Purple
- Bloom Time: Late summer, early fall
Special Features
- Attracts: Butterflies.
- Tolerates: Clay Soil.
- Other Features:
Care and Growing Tips
Check out our blog for more gardening tips!
Shipping Info
IMPORTANT: We are at capacity for shipping the week of 4/22. All new orders will be shipped the week of 4/29 (or later, if your Zone has not started shipping in the list below).
We have a huge amount of orders to get through, so we appreciate your patience while we work extra hard to make this happen. Thank you!
All orders placed now will ship in Spring 2024 unless requested otherwise.
- Zones 10-7: Already started
- Zone 6: Starting April 22nd
- Zone 5: Starting May 6th
- Zones 4-2: Starting May 13th
If you wish to receive your plants earlier than what's on this schedule, please send us an email after you place the order. Please note that we only ship on Mondays and Tuesdays for the safety of the plants in transit.
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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.