Another large genus of plants in the Asteraceae family, but relatively underused in UK gardens. From our experience, upright perennials, of good size, flowers, white to purple-pink, more like Cirsium rather than Aster.
The tiny flowers that make up vernonia’s flowerheads combine to provide a rich source of nectar and pollen, making them particularly valuable to late-summer wildlife. They are especially attractive to honeybees, hoverflies and a wide range of butterflies.