2026 Plant of the Year, Winner

Proposed by: a member of Garden Club of Buzzards Bay, Zone I
Seconded by: a member of Garden Club of Buzzards Bay, Zone I

Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’ is a fine nectar source for a wide variety of butterflies, moths, and bees. This plant's drought tolerance is most valuable, as is its late-season bloom which attracts many migrating pollinators, including monarch butterflies. The species is rare, but in the wild it is known to play a small part in erosion control. Its sturdy, upright stems have smooth, unusual leaves, similar to those of Amsonia hubrichtii. Its bushy mound appearance provides valuable texture in the garden over a long season. Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’ is a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal plant.