Plant Delights sells a type of tall ironweed - like 12 feet tall.

Mail-Order Natives has a good rating at the Garden Watchdog and they list two types of ironweed. I never used them or heard of them before.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mail-Order Natives

Oh, my, 12' is a bit much, Wardda, but I'll look at Plants Delight offerings.

Thanks, Loretta, I've never heard of the source you offered.
Have you warmed up yet?

No! It's cold!

But anyway, I've found that Garden Watchdog can pull up a few sources that do not show up on Google. If you search the plantfiles and call up the plant you are looking for, often under the name, they have some sources listed as well as a link to the website. On top of that, there might be a few reviews listed.
Forest Farm as a couple of Vernonia but not Vernonia altissima - is that the one you are looking for?
I see that one at Plants Delight Jonesboro Giant. That must be a site.

If by 'tall' ironweed, you mean Vernonia noveboracensis,
check with Rare Find right here in NJ; they have
usually carried it, both mail-order or retail at their
nursery. Another mail order source is Niche Gardens, which
has not only the 'taller' type you are seeking, but a
couple of slightly shorter ones - this is a nursery I swear by, making a pilgrimage there every Spring!

Carl

Here is a link that might be useful: Niche Gardens

I mean "sight". Oh well.
So Carl, you drive all the way down to North Carolina?

Oh, yes, I drive all the way to North Carolina. . .that's
what hapens when you're a nursery junkie, but I can think
of worse addictions! Actually, there ARE other reasons
for the trip, like the annual Azalea Festival in Wilmington
with friends there, and since it's early April, sometimes
a stopover at Winterthur is required. . .you know, we are
so lucky to be situated in the mid-Atlantic because it's
well nigh impossible to drive more than fifty miles without encountering a glorious garden or an intriguing nursery!

Incidentally, these posts are absolutely amazing the way
they engender cross-fertilization (pun intended!): your
original question about ironweed, prompted the response
from someone else about a "giant" form at Plant Delights,
which immediately caught my eye since ironweed was on my
shopping list this year and now I have YOU to thank for
accidentally unearthing this terrific 12' "monster" from
PD which is going to work out perfectly in my garden. . .
I'll have to remember to post photos (if I ever figure
out "how") and I'll make sure you get "finder's credit" :)

Carl

Ooops! That "finders credit" belongs to njtea, not
Loretta. . .but you all get the point about cross-
fertilizing one another. . .

Carl

Actually "finders credit" goes to Wardda. I will never shop at Plants Delight.

CMBO Research might have ironweed at their spring plant swap, that is if they have one this spring. By the way, Plant Delights is one of the best mail order nurseries out there, the owner is world famous. I've ordered from them many times and their plants have always arrived in excellent condition. Along with the more exotic stuff they also offer new native plants all the time.

Thanks for all the input - I really appreciate it. Now all I have to do is make a decision!

I bit the bullet and ordered the REALLY tall ironweed from Plant's Delight as well as an August lily and a switchgrass.

August Lily Hosta? Search says the "most fragrant of all hostas" Sounds interesting.

Loretta, I HATE hostas - but the August Lily is something else again. The fragrance is fantastic. Many, many years ago, a friend gave me a clump. I didn't really want it, but being polite, did not turn it down and not being able to throw away anything living, I planted the clump. Best thing I ever did! I just hope that what Plants Delight offers is as fragrant as the clump I got 20 years ago and has not been tampered with genetically.

And it has white flowers which I prefer on a hosta. Don't like those light purple ones but they are fun to pop. Hate is such a strong word though.

As far as I am concerned, the only things hostas are good for is to feed the deer - they tend to eat the hostas and leave other plants alone.