Iron Butterfly Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’

Its short stature, deer resistance, and butterfly appeal make Iron Butterfly a great choice for any size landscape.

This cultivar of the native Letterman ironweed is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and was selected for its vigorous growth, compact habit and abundance of flowers. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and its fine foliage is topped by purple flowers in late summer and fall.

Grow Iron Butterfly in full sun and well-drained soil. It tolerates drought once established and occasional flooding. This makes it a good choice for rain gardens.

Place it in the landscape where you can enjoy the late season flowers and the hummingbirds and butterflies it attracts.

Combine Iron Butterfly with goldenrod, baptisia, butterfly weed, monarda and rudbeckia. Include it in deer resistant, butterfly and cottage gardens.

A bit more information: Letterman ironweed is native to rocky outcrops, rocky floodplains of west-central Arkansas and adjacent portions of Oklahoma. Both Letterman and Iron Butterfly can be used for erosion control.