2014 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners

Vernonia lettermannii Engelm. ex A. Gray - Narrowleaf Ironweed is a native of Oklahoma and Arkansas.  Its short stature makes it very desirable when compared to our large sprawling native ironweed, Vernonia gigantea.  It shares an appearance like Amsonia hubrichtii (a Theodore Klein Plant Award winner for 1999) according to Allan Armitage who claims it is his “new favorite plant” in the Third Edition (2008) of his Herbaceous Perennial Plants.  The tight habit shown in the image (on a green roof) makes it a winner throughout the gardening season; spring, summer and fall.

Mary Vaananen image = MV©