Verbesina virginica
Frostweed is an extraordinary native perennial featuring tall, winged stems and large snow-white flower heads that bloom in late summer and fall. It acts as an unrivaled primary nectar hub for migrating Monarch butterflies journeying south to Mexico. It earns its poetic common name during the first winter freeze, when sap expanding inside its stems ruptures the outer bark to form breathtaking, intricate ribbons of crystal ice around its base.
Height: 1-3 ft.
Spread: 2-5 ft.
Foliage: Deciduous
Growth Rate: Moderate
Water Need: Low
Sun Need: Part Sun, Full Sun
Substrate / Soil: Limestone, Loam, Gravelly
Bloom Season: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
This species serves as an essential host plant for caterpillar larvae of: Bordered Patch Butterfly, Silvery Checkerspot.
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