GardenDC Podcast Episode 227: Ironweed for the Mid-Atlantic Garden

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center, (https://mtcubacenter.org/)  all about Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) for the Mid-Atlantic Region. The plant profile is on Night-Blooming Cereus and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on Love Grows from Christy Page of Green Prints (https://greenprints.com/) . You can find Mt. Cuba Center's Vernonia Report here (https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/vernonia/) . Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store! BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!  See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support. If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to: ~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 182: Amsonia https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-182-amsonia.html (about:invalid#zCSafez) ~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 134: Carex https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-134-carex-for.html (about:invalid#zCSafez) ~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 99: Trilliums https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-99-trilliums.html (about:invalid#zCSafez) ~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 69: Garden Phlox ⁠https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-69-garden-phlox.htm (about:invalid#zCSafez) Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store! Show Notes: 01:20 Introducing Sam Hoadley 03:39 Focusing on Ironweed (Vernonia) 04:23 Vernonia as a genus and its growing conditions 07:06 “[Ironweeds] are very low maintenance after the first year,” Sam explains 09:06 Sam introduces Mt. Cuba Center, its soil conditions, and trial garden 12:15 Is it Ironweed or Joe Pye Weed? 13:43 Incidence of disease, rust, and powdery mildew in Ironweed 17:38 Ironweed is a great pollinator plant -- bees and beetles 22:29 Pollinators continued: butterflies, skippers and more 25:14 Differences of Vernonia cultivars and foliage 27:48 The ecological and ornamental benefits of leaving up the seed heads 30:30 The Chelsea Chop: what worked in the trial garden and what didn’t 33:30 Propagating New York Ironweed: digging and division 35:10 Iron Butterfly steals the show 36:27 Mt. Cuba’s highest rated Ironweed 38:20 Vernonia gigantea: Mt. Cuba’s second highest rated Ironweed 39:25 Vernonia Summer Swan Song/Summer series 40:32 The Missouri Ironweed: Mt. Cuba’s third highest rated Ironweed 41:19 Extraordinary Ironweed, those types less suitable for the home gardener 42:42 “Any other advice on Ironweed?” Kathy asks Sam 44:38 How to source Ironweed 46:20 How to access Mt. Cuba Center’s report (mtcubacenter.org) 47:20 Mt. Cuba Center’s hours and open dates 48:43 The Urban Garden by Kathy Jetz and Teri Speight 49:37 Plant Profile: Night-Blooming Cereus 51:33 What's new in the winter garden this week? Snowdrops and Heathers 52:41 Upcoming local gardening events 54:54 The Last Word by Christy Page, reading “Love Grows” 57:21 How to support the Garden DC Podcast We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode. And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too! Episode Credits: Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz Interview Edit and Show Notes: Skylar Drew Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany Recorded on 2-8-2025.