Extremely drought and heat tolerant, deer resistant, just about disease free, and the seed heads provide winter interest. Easy to control; simply cut back hard when actively growing and they will not return next season. No photograph can convey the vivid purple color of ironweed; which is a most spectacular latesummer flower. The stems are so tough that they are used to build trellises and small fencing for the gardens, I use them for this too. Use the stems to make a trellis.
