{"product_id":"vernonia-summer-swan-song","title":"Vernonia 'Summer's Swan Song'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eVernonia 'Summer's Swan Song'\u003c\/em\u003e: Fine-Leaved Purple for the Grand Finale\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Summer's Swan Song' saves its best number for the very end. Dark purple florets fire off as the season wraps up, like a diva holding the final note until the lights come up. ONE LAST HIGH NOTE, DARLING.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eVernonia lettermannii\u003c\/em\u003e × \u003cem\u003eV. angustifolia\u003c\/em\u003e 'Summer's Swan Song'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ironweed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75–90 cm (2.5–3 ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90–110 cm (3–3.5 ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dark purple florets in loose, branching clusters at the stem tips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late summer into fall (September to October)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine, narrow, olive-green leaves that take on dark red tints in full sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerates both moist and dry soil once established, 2027 Perennial Plant of the Year®\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Plant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Its fine, almost feathery texture makes it a good middle-of-the-border plant in a sunny bed, a prairie-style planting or a pollinator garden. Its rounded, bushy shape also works as a low hedge-like accent along a path or fence, and it handles both moist and dry soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Give 'Summer's Swan Song' a sunny, moist bed with marsh marigolds in spring and pink hibiscus in summer. \u003cem\u003eCaltha palustris\u003c\/em\u003e opens golden marsh marigolds at 30 to 45 cm in April and May. \u003cem\u003eHeuchera FYRE WING™ 'Rhodonite'\u003c\/em\u003e adds colourful foliage at 20 cm at the front. \u003cem\u003eHibiscus 'Watermelon Ruffles'\u003c\/em\u003e brings big magenta-pink blooms at 120 to 140 cm from July to September. \u003cem\u003eMolinia 'Moorhexe'\u003c\/em\u003e grows to 60 to 90 cm in flower with fine dark green blades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Skip the rich compost and heavy fertilizer, which only make ironweeds floppy. Water regularly through the first season. After that, it handles both wet spells and dry ones. Leave the stems standing over winter for structure and seed heads, then cut everything to the ground in early spring before new growth starts. It's a slow, steady clump former. It rarely needs dividing, but you can split a crowded clump in spring with a sharp spade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory:\u003c\/strong\u003e 'Summer's Swan Song' was bred by Dr. Jim Ault at the Chicago Botanic Garden, who crossed \u003cem\u003eVernonia lettermannii\u003c\/em\u003e, a fine-leaved ironweed, with \u003cem\u003eV. angustifolia\u003c\/em\u003e 'Plum Peachy' in 2010 and chose this seedling in 2012. It was introduced through Chicagoland Grows®, and the Perennial Plant Association named it the 2027 Perennial Plant of the Year®.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Thoughts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wet soil, dry soil, nibbling deer: none of it rattles this performer. Bees and butterflies stay for the finale. CLOSE THE SEASON IN STYLE.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Perennials","offers":[{"title":"1 Gallon Pot \/ Purple \/ 4","offer_id":67851586175254,"sku":"VERNSUSS01","price":32.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/5366\/4534\/files\/Vernonia_Summer_sSwanSong.png?v=1793796039","url":"https:\/\/blacksheepperennials.com\/products\/vernonia-summer-swan-song","provider":"Black Sheep Perennials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}