Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Wingstem is a tall native wildflower named for the thin, leafy "wings" that run down its stem. It grows in moist woods, creek banks, and bottomlands across much of the eastern and central United States, blooming in late summer and early fall. It is also called yellow ironweed.

Appearance

Appearance: The leaf bases run down the stem as raised wings, with long white hairs between the ridges. Once in a while a plant has no wings.
Growth form: A perennial 3–8 ft (1–2.4 m) tall, with a mostly unbranched stem up to the flower cluster at the top. Spreading let it form colonies.
Leaves: Alternate leaves up to 10 in (25 cm) long, narrow-oval to lance-shaped, rough on top and paler underneath.
Flowers: Heads are 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) across, with 2–10 yellow ray petals that droop downward and a greenish-yellow center that sticks out like a pincushion.
Flowering time: Late summer to early fall, for about 4–6 weeks. The flowers sometimes have a mild scent.
Fruit: Flat, oval seeds with papery wings and two short bristles at the tip.

Look-alikes

Yellow crownbeardVerbesina helianthoides

Yellow crownbeard is shorter and hairier, blooms earlier in summer, and holds its rays more flat instead of drooping. It usually grows in prairies rather than wet woods.

Why they get mixed upSame genus, yellow flowers, and a winged stem.

IronweedsVernonia

Ironweeds have no wings on the stem, and their flower heads look completely different.

Why they get mixed upSimilar height and leaves, same bloom time, and both like moist places, which is why wingstem is also called yellow ironweed.

Cutleaf coneflowerRudbeckia laciniata

Cutleaf coneflower has deeply divided leaves and 8–12 rays. Wingstem's leaves are undivided and its stem is winged.

Why they get mixed upBoth are tall, moisture-loving plants with drooping yellow rays in late summer.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Creek banks and floodplains
Woodland edges and openings
Moist meadows
Pastures and roadside ditches
Range: Native to eastern and central North America, from the Northeast and Southeast through the north-central states to Texas, plus Ontario. In Illinois it turns up occasionally in most counties.
Preferred conditions: Prefers fertile, moist ground and usually stays close to water or woods. It holds its own in both high-quality and disturbed habitats.
Flowering: Flowers Aug–Sep
Flowers Aug–Sep

Life cycle

Seed dispersal: Seeds spread by wind and by hitching a ride on animals.

Growing it

Care: Easy in full sun to light shade with moist, rich soil, but it spreads by rhizomes and seed. Lower leaves may drop in hot, dry spells, and powdery mildew can show up on stressed plants.
Propagation: Spreads underground by rhizomes into colonies.