Wingstem
Verbesina alternifolia
Also listed as Actinomeris alternifolia, Ridan alternifolia
Also known as Alternate-leaved Crownbeard, Yellow Ironweed
Climate Match for your location
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Wingstem is a native wildflower with distinctive winged stems and yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom in late summer and fall. It attracts pollinators and is excellent for naturalized gardens and meadows.
Why grow it
Wingstem outperforms many late-season natives in clay and poorly drained soils where other composites struggle, making it useful for sites that limit plant choices. Its tall, sturdy stems (3 to 8 feet) and extended fall bloom window fill vertical space and provide pollinator forage when many garden plants are fading. Unlike some aggressive asters and goldenrods, wingstem spreads moderately through seed and rhizomes, offering easier management in a defined planting area.
Watch out for
Seedlings and young plants benefit from consistent moisture during establishment, particularly in dry summers. In rich soils, plants may lean or sprawl without staking or companion support from neighboring perennials. Volunteer seedlings can appear in adjacent beds the following season, so deadheading spent flowers before seed maturation helps contain spread if that matters for your site.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Wingstem is a native wildflower with distinctive winged stems and yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom in late summer and fall. It attracts pollinators and is excellent for naturalized gardens and meadows.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Wingstem grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Wingstem outperforms many late-season natives in clay and poorly drained soils where other composites struggle, making it useful for sites that limit plant choices. Its tall, sturdy stems (3 to 8 feet) and extended fall bloom window fill vertical space and provide pollinator forage when many garden plants are fading. Unlike some aggressive asters and goldenrods, wingstem spreads moderately through seed and rhizomes, offering easier management in a defined planting area.
Watch out for
Seedlings and young plants benefit from consistent moisture during establishment, particularly in dry summers. In rich soils, plants may lean or sprawl without staking or companion support from neighboring perennials. Volunteer seedlings can appear in adjacent beds the following season, so deadheading spent flowers before seed maturation helps contain spread if that matters for your site.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
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