Vernonia noveboracensis

Vernonia noveboracensis is an herbaceous perennial native across the southeast. It is typically found growing in sunny moist habitats. It grows best in full sun to part shade, and soils that are moist to wet. This plant can grow up to eight feet tall in the growing season, and produces purple flowers in the late summer that are very attractive to pollinators. The seeds produced later are a good food source for songbirds. This plant dies back almost completely in the winter, leaving a small basal rosette of leaves until the next spring. Leaving the dormant stems up until spring provides necessary over-wintering habitat for many pollinators. Vernonia noveboracensis is excellent as a specimen plant in a yard or rain garden, or for stormwater control plantings.