What it is
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) is in the Asteraceae (Daisy) family. A tall shade native whose stems split and extrude ribbons of ice on the first hard freeze — and feeds late monarchs.
How to grow it
It wants part shade, water it low to moderate, and give it tolerant soil. Target a soil pH around 6.0–7.5. Space plants about 2–3 ft apart. Expect roughly Established. Hardy native perennial.
How it's used
Frostweed is used: ornamental; pollinator.
🔎 How to identify it
- Winged stems, large rough leaves
- White flower clusters in fall
- Ice 'flowers' at first freeze
Not for eating
How to grow & propagate frostweed
Everything I've worked out about starting this one, keeping it alive through a Texas year, and turning one plant into many — free.
How to propagate frostweed
The daisy family is a seed family — those flower heads are seed factories, and most members come up fast and willing from direct sowing. The perennial members (coneflower, black-eyed Susan, the native sunflowers) also clump up over a few years and can be lifted and split in fall or early spring to make free plants and keep the center from dying out.
Growing frostweed in Texas
Give it part shade and tolerant soil. Match the spot to the plant and most of the battle is already won.
Time your planting to our long warm season and watch the frost dates at both ends; the live weather tool on this site is built for exactly that.
Keep moisture even, especially while it's young — deep, less-frequent soaks build better roots than a daily sprinkle.
Harvesting
Figure on roughly established before you're harvesting.
Making more for free
If you want more, let your healthiest plants mature fully and collect the seed once it's dry on the plant — then store it somewhere cool, dark, and dry until next season.
Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.