ironweed

noun

iron·​weed ˈī(-ə)rn-ˌwēd 

: any of a genus (Vernonia) of mostly weedy composite plants usually having alternate leaves and perfect red, purple, or white tubular flowers in terminal cymose heads

Examples of ironweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If only Romeo knew of the ironweeds, his life would have been so much easier. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 16 Aug. 2024

By now the fields are overgrown, most ironweed and parsnip have turned black, even the closed cabinet doors of milkweed pods have burst open, spilling their shucked silk into the day. —Didi Jackson, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024

Even among the other tall ironweed species found across North America, this one is a beast. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 16 Aug. 2024

Ralph said specific native plants that were previously prohibited but allowed under the new ordinance include Canada goldenrod, daisy fleabane, dogbane, fall panicum, hoary verbena, ironweed, milkweed, Pennsylvania smartweed, purpletop grass, sagewort, tall thistle and wild four-o’clock. —Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

Tall, woody wildflowers like goldenrod, ironweed, teasel, mullein and the like can produce embers in seconds. —Bradley Duncan, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2023

Leaving blackberry, mullein, ironweed, mountain mint, Joe Pye weed, sunflowers and wild bergamot standing can make a huge difference. —Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023

This structure gives a sense of intentionality that distinguishes this garden from a wild prairie and takes advantage of the towering height of the Joe Pye weed and ironweed. —Susan Brownstein, cleveland, 8 Aug. 2023

The hard path will offer close-up views of wildflowers in the fall, such as ironweed, milkweed and two varieties of goldenrod. —Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 28 Sep. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ironweed

• aniseed
• centipede
• cottonseed
• disagreed
• ganymede
• guaranteed
• intercede
• overspeed
• pedigreed
• refereed
• supercede
• supersede

Kids Definition

ironweed

noun

iron·​weed -ˌwēd 

: any of several mostly weedy plants related to the daisies and bearing clusters of red, purple, or white flowers