GAYFEATHER

Liatris spicata, commonly known as Blazing Star or Gayfeather, is a striking North American native perennial prized for its distinctive vertical flower display and easy-care nature. It forms basal clumps of narrow, grass-like, medium-green foliage from which rigid, leafless stems shoot upwards, reaching a mature height of 30-36 inches. It is an essential architectural component in a sunny garden, adding strong vertical lines to borders, meadow plantings, or naturalized areas, and it is known for being generally deer and rabbit resistant. It thrives in full sun and prefers average to moist, well-drained soil, displaying excellent tolerance for heat and humidity.

Liatris spicata has spectacular flower spikes, which are covered in fuzzy, thistle-like florets typically colored in shades of reddish-purple or deep violet. Blooming from mid-summer to early fall, the flowers have the unusual habit of opening from the top of the spike downward, creating a dense, colorful "bottle brush" effect. This protracted bloom time makes it an invaluable source of nectar for a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds. Furthermore, the sturdy flower stalks are extremely popular as both long-lasting cut flowers and for use in dried arrangements.