[5] The flowers of Vernonia missurica bloom in July and August[4] and are magenta with reddish-brown bracts.

Vernonia missurica has a central stout stem that is covered with white hairs, and the flowers grow close to each other and have rayless heads.

[5] Vernonia missurica is native to the central and east central United States namely Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

[2] The species grows in river bottom woods, wet prairies, fens, and sedge meadows.

Some caterpillars feed on the plant, including the most common guests of Grammia parthenice (Parthenice tiger moth), Perigea xanthioides (red groundling), and Papaipema cerussata (ironweed borer moth).