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January 6th, 2002
Verbesina virginica

Plant Profile: Verbesina virginica (frostweed).

Verbesina virginica
I don’t know where my frostweed came from, but it has established itself in my north border among the nandina and it will not go away. I tried cutting it back to the ground for several years and it just kept coming back. During the summer the large coarse leaves suffer from heat and drought and look ragged. But come fall, it brightens the shady spot with large heads of small white flowers which attract bees and butterflies. With all the rain we had in 2001, it produced absolutely stunning flower heads with a scent reminiscent of alyssum.

So I’ve decided to live and let live.

As it turns out, frostweed likes the loamy soils by creeks or in the shade of large trees. So with a little more care on my part, it might become a welcome addition to the north border.

References

  • Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country p. 231
  • Gardening Success with Difficult Soils p. 162
  • Wildflower Center Native Plant Database: Verbesina virginica

by M Sinclair Stevens

One Response to post “Verbesina virginica”

  1. From carla:
    January 24th, 2003

    Live and let live for the amazing sight that will greet you from these plants after a hard freeze. You’ll think your place has been bombarded by plastic bags, but it’s ice. Who says it never “snows” in Austin.