Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Common Ironweed (Smooth Ironweed)
Vernonia fasciculata   [C-value 5]
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Blooms mid-July - mid-October

The beautiful native Common Ironweed is common in our area. It prefers full sun and moist fertile soil. Habitats include wet to moist black soil prairies, marshes and fens. This perennial is 2-4' tall and unbranched with a round hairless central stem. The alternate leaves are up to 5" long and ½" across, toothed, hairless and narrowly lance-shaped. The central stem terminates in a dense flat-topped cluster (corymb) of magenta compound flowers. Each compound flower has 15-30 disk florets with a short cylinder of green bracts underneath. Each disk floret is magenta, with 5 spreading petals and a prominent divided style.

Common Ironweed at Jay Woods Forest Preserve July 17, 2015

Common Ironweed at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve August 8, 2017

Common Ironweed at Lyon Forest Preserve fen August 3, 2015

Common Ironweed at Subat Forest Preserve August 26, 2015

Common Ironweed at Lyon Forest Preserve fen September 4, 2013

Common Ironweed seedheads at Lyon Forest Preserve fen October 31, 2014

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