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Liatris pilosa

Previously known as:

  • Liatris graminifolia
Phonetic Spelling
LY-uh-tris pil-OH-suh
Description

Sandhills Blazing Star, a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family is a slender, herbaceous, upright perennial native to the Eastern United States.  

It is noted for its showy spikes of purple flowers in summer through fall.  It prefers full sun and dry, sandy, or rocky soil with good drainage and tolerates heat and drought.  Its habitat includes long leaf pine sandhills, streams, pine barrens, sand ridges, other xeric forests and woodlands, fields, and road banks.  

Its erect growth proved vertical interest in the garden, attracts butterflies and pollinators and makes good cut flowers.

It can be grown from seeds or corms, however seeds can take longer to establish.  

With regard to taxonomy, L. pilosa has been misapplied to L. graminifolia var. elegantula.  Plants identified as L. pilosa may actually be L. elegantula.

Erect stems are green with fine darker green ridges and reach 1-3 feet tall. Leaves appear both basally and along the stem, getting smaller as they reach the tip.  The undersides may have fine hairs.   Flower heads appear on a spike,  with 7-10 florets, each floret contains small, tubular 5-lobed pink-purple blossoms with rounded petal tips.  Long-tongued bees or butterflies may visit the flowers. Propagation is either completed by corm or seeds. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No insect or disease issues.  Intolerant of wet soil and becomes lanky in shade.

More information on Liatris.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#corms#herbaceous#NC native#herbaceous perennial#native garden#long bloom time#cutting garden#pollinator plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#corms#herbaceous#NC native#herbaceous perennial#native garden#long bloom time#cutting garden#pollinator plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#food source pollen#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#perennial#wildflower#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Liatris
    Species:
    pilosa
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern U.S.A
    Distribution:
    Eastern U.S. from southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey along the coastal plain to Florida and Alabama.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Displays from September to December
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Flower heads appear on a spike, or vertical stem of sessile disk flowers (spicate terminal inflorescence). Flower heads each have 7-10 flowers without petals (apetalous), each with 5 lobes. The flowers bloom from top to bottom (basipetally). Each floret contains a small, tubular 5-lobed pink-purple blossoms with rounded petal tips. Long-tongued bees or butterflies may visit the flowers. Blooms from August to November.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves appear both basally and along the stem, getting small as they reach the tip. The base of the plant has tufts of narrow lanceolate leaves (to 12 inches) with hairy fringed margins. The leaf underside has fine hairs. Leaf length shortens progressively from the base of the plant up to the flower heads. Uppermost leaves are needle-like and 2-3 inches long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    A single erect stem arises from a basal tuft of leaves. The erect unbranched green stems have fine darker green ridges and reach 1-3 feet tall.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Diseases
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Insect Pests
    Poor Soil