- Description:
Short, dense hairs cover stiff woody stems. Leaves are oval or lance-shaped and up
to 2 inches wide and 4 inches long. Leaves are alternate on the stem, hairy on the
underside and toothed. Reddish-purple flowering heads are produced in flat-topped
clusters.
- Comments:
Ironweed is named because of its toughness. It is bitter and not grazed upon by livestock.
The chemical properties that impart the bitterness are the plant’s defense against
chewing insects, rodents and large grazing animals. Ironweed is a good rangeland indicator
species. Ironweed will increase in abundance when the range is over-used but will decrease
when management is improved. Swallowtails and sulphurs are among the butterfly visitors.
Western Ironweed is found in pastures and roadsides statewide.
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