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Asteraceae
Liatris

not marked as a favorite taxon Liatris spicata (Linnaeus) Martyn. Common name: Florist's Gayfeather. Phenology: Jun-Aug (-Sep). Habitat: Prairies (calcareous), roadsides, seepages, bogs, grassy balds. Distribution: MA, ON, and MI, south to GA, AL, MS, and AR.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Blooming earlier than the coastal L. resinosa, even though occurring inland, more northerly, and at higher elevations.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Liatris spicata (L.) Willd. var. spicata — F, FNA21, G, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Va, WV; = Liatris spicata (L.) Willd. var. typica Gaiser — Gaiser (1946), Godfrey (1948); < Laciniaria spicata (L.) Kuntze — S; < Liatris spicata (Linnaeus) Martyn — C, Il, Mi, Oh3, SE1, Tat, Tn, W; > Liatris spicata (L.) Willd. var. montana A.Gray; < Liatris spicata (L.) Willd. var. spicata — K4. Basionym: Serratula spicata L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Liatris spicata var. spicata - FNA21

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

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image #1 of Liatris spicata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Liatris spicata© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Liatris spicata© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Liatris spicata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Liatris spicata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Liatris spicata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Liatris spicata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Liatris spicata© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Liatris spicata© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Liatris spicata© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of prairies, roadsides, seepages, bogs, moist to wet meadows and grassy balds.

Stems: Stems stiff, unbranched, usually smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, linear, to 14 in. long (reduced upward), smooth or hairy along mid-vein, sometimes with hairs along margins.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in a dense terminal spike; heads about 1/3 in. wide, sessile, consisting of 4-14 pink, 5-lobed disk florets surrounded by purple bristles and with 2 style branches protruding. Green bracts tightly cover the cylindric to bell-shaped base of each head.

Fruits: Fruit a cluster of small, tufted achenes.

Comments: L. spicata var. resinosa usually has a smaller number of florets (5-6), and bracts surrounding the base of each head are generally purplish rather than greenish.

Height: 1-4 ft.

plant sale text: Butterflies love Sessile Blazing-star as much as people do. Its showy spikes of purple flowers bloom in midsummer. Full sun is ideal. Sessile Blazing-star is native to coastal savannas and bogs. It thrives in average soil. This southeastern native perennial can easily be grown in a perennial border or as part of a naturalized meadow.The Cherokee tribe used this species for a variety of medicinal purposes.

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of prairies, roadsides, seepages, bogs, moist to wet meadows and grassy balds.

stems: Stems stiff, unbranched, usually smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, linear, to 14 in. long (reduced upward), smooth or hairy along mid-vein, sometimes with hairs along margins.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in a dense terminal spike; heads about 1/3 in. wide, sessile, consisting of 4-14 pink, 5-lobed disk florets surrounded by purple bristles and with 2 style branches protruding. Green bracts tightly cover the cylindric to bell-shaped base of each head.

fruits: Fruit a cluster of small, tufted achenes.

comments: L. spicata var. resinosa usually has a smaller number of florets (5-6), and bracts surrounding the base of each head are generally purplish rather than greenish.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern & central United States



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