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: We guarantee your plants will arrive in a healthy, suitable condition for planting. If your plants arrive damaged, in poor condition, or if you have any concerns; email a photo along with the plant name and your order number to info@rareroots.com within 48 hours of delivery. We do not offer any long term warranties or guarantees due to the sheer number of variables that can affect plants after they leave our nursery.
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
Spring Shipping Schedule 2025
ALL ZONES SHIPPING NOW!
Any orders placed will be shipped out the following Monday or Tuesday. We only ship on Mondays and Tuesdays to ensure that plants can travel during the weekdays. Orders placed after 12 PM (noon) on Fridays may not ship the following Monday or Tuesday and will likely be scheduled for shipment the week after.
Plants take 2-3 days to arrive after you receive a notification that they've been shipped.
We appreciate your patience while our small team works to get your plants to you safely! If you need a specific shipping week, you are welcome to let us know by leaving a note on the Cart page or replying to your order confirmation email.
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.