Giant Ironweed
Tall, deep purple, and impossible for pollinators to ignore. Back of the bed, and let it tower.
A tall summer perennial that throws deep purple flowers at butterfly height.
Why it works here
This is a back-of-the-bed plant. It grows naturally down the peninsula to Martin and Lee counties, so it belongs here, and the flat-topped clusters of purple flowers land at exactly the height butterflies and native bees want in mid to late summer. I use it where the soil stays a little moist, at the rear of a wildflower planting, so its height reads as a backdrop instead of a problem. It goes dormant in winter and comes back on its own.
Care
Give it steady moisture the first season, especially through spring dry spells, since it is not a true drought plant. A layer of compost in spring and a couple inches of mulch over the root zone keeps it happy. It can sucker and self-seed, so pull the seedlings you do not want once a year and it stays in bounds. You can cut it back by a third in early summer if you want a shorter, bushier plant with more flower heads. Cut the whole thing to the ground after it dies back in winter.
Common problems
Suckering and self-seeding: it can wander. The fix is a yearly pass pulling stray seedlings and root suckers, easy work in sandy soil.
Flopping: tall stems in rich soil or too much shade lean over. Give it full sun and pinch it back once in early summer to keep it sturdy.
Otherwise this is a tough, mostly trouble-free perennial. I do not see real pest issues on it.
Common questions
Will it take over my bed like some purple wildflowers do?
It can spread by suckers and seed, but it is slow and easy to pull, not aggressive like an invasive. One weeding pass a year keeps it where you want it.
Does it need a lot of water?
More than most of my dry-loving natives. It is not drought proof, so put it somewhere the soil stays a little moist and water it through spring dry spells the first year.
When does it bloom and how long?
Summer into fall, several weeks of purple flower clusters right when pollinators are working hardest.
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