How do you grow wingstem from seed?

Sowing: Direct sow in late fall, planting just below the surface of the soil. For spring planting, mix the seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 30 days before planting. Keep the soil lightly moist until germination. Growing: Water seedlings occasionally until they become established.

How do you grow wingstem?

Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light shade and moist to mesic conditions. Wingstem typically grows in fertile soil that is high in organic matter. The lower leaves may fall off the plant during hot dry weather.

Is wingstem perennial?

Verbesina alternifolia commonly called wingstem or yellow ironweed is a tall, weedy, clump-forming perennial that is native to woodland areas in eastern and central North America. Leaf tissue extends beyond the leaf base and down the stems of the plant, hence the common name of wingstem. Seeds are attractive to birds.

Do honeybees like wingstem?

Honey bees, native bees, and butterflies love both varieties of wingstem. Because they bloom so late in the season, wingstem can provide a valuable last boost to pollinators before the killing frosts start. They provide abundant pollen and nectar for many species of insect pollinators.

What kind of soil does Verbesina alternifolia grow in?

Thrives in consistently moist, organically rich soils, but also tolerates some dry conditions. Easy to grow from seed. Verbesina alternifolia commonly called wingstem or yellow ironweed is a tall, weedy, clump-forming perennial that is native to woodland areas in eastern and central North America.

How tall does a Verbesina encelioides get?

plants perennial, 10–30 dm tall, stems with prominent wing -angles that are decurrent from the leaf bases, capitula with 2–10 sterile ray flowers, and leaf blades serrate to subentire (vs. V. envcelioides, with plants annual, 2–10 dm tall, stems without decurrent wing -angles, capitula with 10–15 carpellate ray flowers, and leaf blades coarsely).

How long does it take for a Verbesina seed to germinate?

Some species don’t need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Is the Verbesina alternifolia wingstem a good plant?

Wingstem is aggressive and therefore may not be suitable for small landscape plantings. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation recognizes Wingstem as having special value to pollinators because it supports a great diversity of bees and wasps.