Bloomipedia
Tall ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
Photo: Brighton Lee via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Tall ironweed

Vernonia gigantea

Native to Ohio

Tall ironweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Ohio it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

25states
2,409OH sightings*
7,558U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Ohio

Quick look

Vernonia gigantea, is a species of perennial plant from family Asteraceae found in United States and Canada. The plant is native to the eastern United States, north to New York state and Ontario, and southwest to Texas.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 25 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Ohio. NatureServe
  • In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,409 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #71 among the 109 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist

Tall ironweed gift ideas

Handmade tall ironweed gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Ohio, most flowering sightings come in July–September.

Flowering records by month in Ohio (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (190 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NY (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records tall ironweed in 25 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Hancock, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Pickaway, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Vinton, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, Wyandot.

More Ohio flowers

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in OH: May–August
White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Blooms in OH: August–October
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OH: June–October

Sources