Vernonia elaeagnifolia

Ironweed

Message of the Flower

Aspiration for the Divine Consciousness

The Mother’s Comment

Blossom, O precious flower, and never close again.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

There is no deep meaning of aspiration—the meaning is plain. It is the call of the being for higher things—for the Divine, for all that belongs to the higher or Divine Consciousness.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - II: Aspiration

This taste for supreme adventure is aspiration–an aspiration which takes hold of you completely and flings you, without calculation and without reserve and without a possibility of withdrawal, into the great adventure of the divine discovery, the great adventure of the divine meeting, the yet greater adventure of the divine Realisation.

The Mother, Questions and Answers 1956: 25 January 1956

Aspiration is like an arrow, like this (gesture). So you aspire, want very earnestly to understand, know, enter into the truth. Yes? And then with that aspiration you do this (gesture). Your aspiration rises, rises, rises, rises straight up, very strong and then it strikes against a kind of… how to put it?… lid which is there, hard like iron and extremely thick, and it does not pass through. And then you say, "See, what's the use of aspiring? It brings nothing at all. I meet with something hard and cannot pass!" But you know about the drop of water which falls on the rock, it ends up by making a chasm: it cuts the rock from top to bottom. Your aspiration is a drop of water which, instead of falling, rises. So, by dint of rising, it beats, beats, beats, and one day it makes a hole, by dint of rising; and when it makes the hole suddenly it springs out from this lid and enters an immensity of light, and you say, "Ah, now I understand."

The Mother, Questions and Answers 1955: 13 July 1955

Colour

Pale mauve to white, purple or violet

Family

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Cultivars

N/A for "elaeagnifolia," but various for Vernonia species.

Flower Size

Small individual flowers within larger clusters or capitula.

Flower Texture

smooth

Number of Petals

Composite flowers typical of the family, appearing as petals are actually individual florets.

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Not particularly noted for fragrance.

Leaf Texture

Can vary, often lanceolate with a slightly rough texture.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Green, sometimes with a silvery or bluish hue.

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Most Vernonia species are herbaceous perennials or subshrubs.

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Late summer to fall.

Climate

Various, depending on the species; many are tolerant of a wide range of conditions.

Water Requirements

Moderate; some species are drought-tolerant once established.

Soil Type

Prefers well-drained soils; tolerant of poor soil conditions.

Temperature Ranges

Hardy in a variety of climates, with specific ranges depending on the species.

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Resistant to many pests and diseases; can occasionally be affected by fungal diseases in humid conditions.

Pollinators

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.

Habitat

Meadows, prairies, and open woodlands; specific habitats vary by species.

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar for pollinators and adds biodiversity to plantings.

Ornamental

Valued for their late-season bloom and as a source of color and texture in gardens.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Mainly ornamental and ecological.

Endangered Status

Some species may be of conservation concern locally.