Ironweed grows up to 7-8 ft tall, into an attractive purple-flowered perennial bush that blooms during the fall (July through September). It makes for a great border plant and the flowers can go in dried arrangements or to make seasonal bouquets. If you grow ironweed, you will enjoy pretty purple blooms when most of the other flowers are gone. Vernonia fascicula is also edible and boasts multiple medicinal uses.

Most notably, ironweed is known as a blood cleansing herb.
The roots are featured in Aryuvedic medicinal texts for their uses in various tinctures, powders and salves that are applied for uses ranging from gout to dandruff.

Native Americans have used ironweed medicinally for centuries. Ingesting ironweed root stimulates the appetite and promotes digestion. The roots are also used for stomach ulcer tea, and the leaves to make menstrual tea.

All in all, ironweed makes for a complimentary addition to the herb garden. Companion plant ironweed alongside Joe Pye weed, blue vervain, boneset, or Culver's root.

Germination instructions: Gently press the seeds on the surface of the ground in late fall for growth after the winter season. Otherwise, treat the seeds with cold stratification before planting in order to simulate winter (Cold stratification treatment: Place seeds in a moist paper towel, place paper towel into ziploc bag, place bag contents into the freezer for 2 months), then sow on surface. Vernonia seeds require sunlight and moisture from the soil to germinate. Once the cold phase, sun and soil requirements have been met, expect seeds to germinate within 14-21 days.