Verbesina alternifolia (L.) Britton ex Kearney

Common Wingstem; Yellow Ironweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Common Wingstem is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is found throughout most of Alabama. Common Wingstem prefers moist sunny sites such as along streams, the edge of mesic woodlands, and roadside ditches. It is a perennial from a short rhizome, often giving rise to clusters of stems. Stems grow from 3-8 feet in height. They are unbranched below the inflorescence, and the internodes are winged. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate to lance-elliptic in outline, with toothed margins. The leaves are minutely pubescent on both surfaces with stiff hairs. This gives the leaf a rough texture to the touch. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in terminal panicles or corymbs. Individual heads have 5-12 yellow ray flowers and 10-30 yellow disc flowers. The ray flowers tend to droop downwards. The fruit is an achene with a winged margin and two horn-like awns at its apex. Common Wingstem is the host plant for Silvery Checkerspot Butterflies (Chlosyne nycteis). Common Wingstem is sometimes available from wildflower nurseries. It is also easily grown from seed, and older clumps can be separated after flowering. Common Wingstem prefers full to partial sun and moist soil. It does well along streams and ponds, in low spots in meadows, and at the edge of woodlands. It is not browsed by deer, making it a useful plant where deer are a problem.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC (NWPL)

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