Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Description:

This dense, well branched pollinator friendly variety features a flush of purple blooms from late summer into fall; mounded, green foliage; great for borders or foundation plantings; drought tolerant once established; resistant to powdery mildew and rust

Ornamental Features

Summer's Swan Song Ironweed is covered in stunning semi-double purple frilly flowers at the ends of the stems from late summer to early fall. Its attractive grassy leaves remain olive green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Summer's Swan Song Ironweed is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Summer's Swan Song Ironweed is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Summer's Swan Song Ironweed will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.