Vernonia lettermanii Malvaviscus each overlaid with a heavy

each overlaid with a heavy brown speckling

look more like a camellia than a hellebore

"Rare and Precious Plants of China

the large black pods that top the clump add to the ornamental value

Vernonia lettermanii Malvaviscus each overlaid with a heavyVernonia lettermanii is a fascinating ironweed that hails from Arkansas and Oklahoma where it can be found in rocky soils and on rock outcrops. Imagine taking an Amsonia hubrichtii, shrinking it to 2' tall x 2' wide, shearing it into a round ball, then topping it with hundreds of purple flowers in August and early September, and you have Vernonia lettermanii a hummingbird delight. We grow this in our hot, dry, crevice garden where it has caused