Wingstem
Verbesina alternifolia
Well named, this perennial has wide flat ‘wings’ that flare out from its main stem. Wingstem can grow up to 8 feet tall and is sometimes called Yellow Ironweed due to the similarities in growth habits to the unrelated Vernonia. The tall stems are topped by yellow flowers, creating a display that lasts over a month in late summer and early fall. The root system of this plant is rhizomatous and may form colonies if left to its own devices, so it may not be suitable for formal garden areas, but it’s perfect for meadows and woodland edges.
Conditions: Full sun to light shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soils
Size: 4′ – 8′ tall, 2′ – 6′ wide
Zone: 4 – 8
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract wide variety of bees, butterflies, bumblebees, and skippers; larval host for Gold Moth
