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Verbesina alternifolia

wingstem

Asteraceae Eastern and central North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Verbesina alternifolia is a tall, clump- to colony-forming perennial 3-8 feet (90-250 cm) high, occasionally reaching 10 feet (3 m). Its erect green to reddish stems carry narrow longitudinal wings, formed by the leaf bases running down the stem, which give the plant its common name. The lance-shaped leaves are 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) long, rough to the touch, tapering at both ends, and mostly alternate along the upper stem. From midsummer into autumn it bears loose, branched clusters of yellow flower heads about 1-1.5 inch (2.5-4 cm) across, each with three to ten thin, drooping ray florets set at uneven angles around a domed yellow disc, giving the heads a ragged, pinwheel form. V. alternifolia grows in moist woodlands, floodplains, ditches, and streambanks across eastern and central North America. It spreads by short rhizomes and abundant seed and can form broad stands that crowd lower plants. The tall stems may lean in wind or rich soil.

Native Range

Verbesina alternifolia is native to eastern and central North America, from Ontario and New York south to Florida and west to Nebraska and Texas. It grows in moist bottomland woods, floodplain forests, streambanks, and damp roadside ground.

Suggested Uses

Planted in rain gardens, native meadows, and the moist back of large borders where its height suits the scale. It is used in pollinator and wildlife plantings for late-summer nectar and seed. The yellow flower heads suit naturalistic and damp-ground schemes.

How to Identify

Wingstem is recognised by the narrow, leafy wings running down its tall green to reddish stems and by yellow flower heads with a few thin, drooping rays set at irregular angles. The rough, lance-shaped leaves are mostly alternate, unlike the opposite leaves of the related Verbesina occidentalis. The ragged, downward-pointing rays separate it from sunflowers and coneflowers, which carry even, outward-facing rays.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 8'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering runs from July to October, peaking in late summer. Branched flower clusters open over many weeks at the stem tips. Dry, winged seeds follow in autumn and feed seed-eating birds before dropping.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Verbesina alternifolia in full sun to partial shade in moist, fertile soil, including loam and clay, at a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It is hardy through USDA zones 4 to 8 and tolerates wet ground and short flooding. In rich or shaded sites the tall stems can lean, so an open, sunny position keeps them upright. Plants spread by rhizome and self-seed freely, so the colony widens each year unless seedlings are taken out. Cutting stems back by half in early summer lowers the eventual height and reduces flopping. Water in drought, since the foliage wilts on dry ground.

Pruning

Cut stems to the ground in late autumn or winter once seed heads have fed birds. A trim by one half in late spring or early summer produces shorter, sturdier stems. Take out unwanted seedlings to keep the stand in check.