Vernonia encompasses a range of growth forms including annuals, perennials, climbers, sub-shrubs, shrubs, and trees, but cultivated varieties are primarily perennial. These plants feature erect stems and simple, stemless leaves, producing flat, branched clusters of tubular flowers that are typically purple or reddish-pink, with some varieties displaying white blooms.

Vernonia

Vernonia 'Summer's Surrender' is a robust, clump-forming perennial that reaches heights of up to 1.2 meters. Its sturdy, upright stems are covered with narrow, lance-like leaves in an olive-green hue. From late summer through autumn, it produces dense clusters of deep purple flowers.

Vernonia 'Summer's Surrender'

"Vernonia 'Summer's Swan Song' is a robust perennial that reaches up to 75 cm in height. It features sturdy, upright stems covered with narrow, lanceolate leaves in an olive-green hue. From late summer through autumn, this plant produces dense clusters of large, deep purple blooms."

Vernonia 'Summer's Swan Song'

Vernonia alamanii

Vernonia angustifolia

Vernonia arkansana is a perennial that grows in clumps, reaching heights of up to 2 meters. It features upright stems adorned with slender, lanceolate leaves. In the fall, it produces loose clusters of small flowers that exhibit a pinkish-purple hue on its branching stems.

Vernonia arkansana

Vernonia arkansana 'Alba'

Vernonia arkansana 'Betty Blindeman'

Vernonia arkansana 'Mammuth' is a perennial that develops into a robust clump, reaching heights of up to 1.8 meters. Its strong, upright stems are adorned with slender, lanceolate leaves. From late summer through autumn, this plant produces dense clusters of rosy pink to mauve flowers.

Vernonia arkansana 'Mammuth'

Vernonia baldwinii is a perennial plant that forms clumps and can grow up to 1.5 meters in height. It produces broad flower heads, reaching as much as 30 centimeters across, composed of 15 to 30 small purple flowers. These flowers appear on robust, hairy stems from summer through autumn. The leaves are lance-shaped, dark green, and feature serrated edges, growing to lengths of up to 17 centimeters.

Vernonia baldwinii

Vernonia brasiliana

Vernonia cockburniana

Vernonia colorata

Vernonia corymbosa

Vernonia fasciculata is a perennial that forms clumps and can reach heights of up to 1.2 meters. Its stems are upright and smooth, adorned with lanceolate, serrated leaves that are a rich shade of green and arranged evenly along the stem. In the fall, it produces dense clusters of small violet flowers on branching stems that rise above the leaves. After flowering, the plant develops seed heads that turn a rusty red.

Vernonia fasciculata

Vernonia fasciculata white-flowered

Vernonia flexuosa

Vernonia gigantea

Vernonia glauca

Vernonia henryi Dunn

Vernonia lettermannii is a perennial that develops into a compact clump, reaching heights of up to 80 cm. Its stems are upright and smooth, adorned with narrow, thread-like leaves that can grow to 9 cm in length and measure just 1-3 mm in width. During late summer, the plant produces flattened clusters comprising 10 to 12 small violet flowers on branched stems that rise above the leaves. After flowering, the plant forms grey-brown seedheads.

Vernonia lettermannii

Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly'

Vernonia lindheimeri

Vernonia mespilifolia

Vernonia missurica

Vernonia noveboracensis is a robust, herbaceous perennial that can reach heights of up to 2 meters. It features rigid, vertical stems adorned with slender, pointed leaves. In late summer and early autumn, the plant produces airy, branched clusters of purple flowers resembling thistles.

Vernonia noveboracensis

Vernonia noveboracensis 'Albiflora'

Vernonia noveboracensis 'White Lightning' is a robust perennial that forms clumps and produces dense clusters of white flowers atop sturdy stems, reaching heights of up to 2 meters. This plant blooms from late summer through early autumn.