Liatris scariosa features bold purple flower spikes emerging from thick stems lined with narrow grasslike foliage. Its blooms open from top to bottom in late summer attracting a wide range of pollinators at a time when few other native plants are flowering. The thick corm forming roots help it withstand drought, fire, and poor soils while also serving as an anchor in wild meadows and open slopes.
Height & Spread: 24 - 48 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained sandy, rocky, or loamy soils
Watering Needs: Low; highly drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Generally avoided by deer
Native Status
This species is native to eastern and central North America, typically found in dry open woods, prairies, and rocky slopes.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, and various Skipper species such as Hobomok Skipper and Peck’s Skipper.
Bees
- Heavily visited by native bumblebees, sweat bees, digger bees, and leafcutter bees gathering nectar and pollen late in the season.
Moths
- Serves as a nectar source for nocturnal moths such as the Gallium Sphinx and the Primrose Moth during twilight hours.
Birds
- Seed heads are visited by American Goldfinches and other small songbirds during fall and early winter.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to allow upright flowering stems room to develop and prevent crowding of basal foliage.
Landscape Placement:
- Excellent for prairie restorations, pollinator gardens, and dry slopes where it provides upright structure and long lasting blooms.
Companion Plants
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (Tickseed) - Produces soft yellow blooms that contrast well with Liatris's purple flower spikes.
- Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) - Provides vertical grass texture and autumn color that complements Liatris blooms.
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) - A summer bloomer that complements Liatris in both color and pollinator appeal.
- Rudbeckia fulgida (Black Eyed Susan) - Offers golden yellow blooms that pair well with Liatris in sunny beds.
- Salvia azurea (Blue Sage) - Adds airy vertical spires of blue late in the season alongside Liatris’s sturdy form.