Verbesina Species, Frostweed, Iceplant, Virginia Crownbeard, White Crownbeard

Frostweed is a wonderful native plant. However, like most members of the aster family, its seeds get absolutely EVERYWHERE, so unless you...Read More have a lot of land to work with, clip the flower heads after they're done blooming to save yourself the trouble of pulling up seedlings where they're not wanted all next year. The good thing is that they're easy to pull.

Other than that, it's great! It's a hardy, low maintenance perennial that attracts a metric ton of butterflies in the fall; it's easy to manage; and you can cut it back all you want. In the winter, when it freezes, it "grows" intricate little ice sculptures from its base.

This plant grows in abundance along the entrance road to Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville FL and puts on quite a floral show in the fall.

Frostweed is a very hardy grower and reseeds generously. So if you don't have the space clip the blooms before they drop seeds. I agres...Read Moresively prune mine so they are not so tall in my beds. I have enjoyed having Frostweed in the shade and sun, and also enjoyed watching a large variety of butterflies that nectar on it. The native plant is also a larval host plant for butterflies. Three that are in Texas are the Bordered Patch, Silvery Checkerspot, and the Summer Azure.

This plant grows almost all over the state of Florida. It loves sunny, wet ditches and open hammocks. It is most attractive in late fal...Read Morel when the white flowers are covering the plants. Considered a large weed, people don't usually grow it in their yards.

Two other species of Verbesina are endemic to Florida.

Frostweed is a wonderful plant that will tolerate both full sun and full shade. The leaves are lovely all season and the white blossoms ...Read Moreare delicate and beautiful. In cold winters the stem will burst after a hard frost and a frothy ice will form on the stem, thereby the name Frostweed.
The plant is also known as Indian tobaco. It is said to have been used by Indians, Mexicans and settlers as a tobacco substitute.
Verbesina virginica is native to Texas and other States.