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Baldwin's Ironweed is an early blooming "fall" wildflower of the prairie. It is a member of the Sunflower family that may be found from Illinois to Arkansas and Texas and west to Colorado. Ranging from 2 to 4 feet tall, it is a perennial that sends a cluster of stems up from a woody rootstock. The stems are unbranched for most of their length, then make numerous flower-bearing branches near the top. The vivid purple flowers begin to open in mid-July. Ironweed got its name from being very fibrous and hence tough to pull or cut. It is also very bitter. Cattle won't eat it, making it a good species in overgrazed pastures. In general, it does best in low, moist ground, but may be found in most any prairie situation. (various sources)