Liatris aspera Bastrop

Rough blazing star is one of the shorter species in the genus liatris, topping out for us at 3' tall, when it bursts into flower for us in late June (NC). The zig-zaggy stalks are clothed with wavy green leaves, held at 90 degrees to the stem. The flowers resemble large shaggy purple buttons along the top 2/3 of the stalk...a wonderful garden specimen in our trials. This incredibly drought-tolerant species is native through most of the central US, from North Dakota south to Texas, where it provides nectar/food for an array of butterflies and bumblebees. Our offering is seed grown from a Wade Roitsch collection near the southern end of its documented range in Bastrop County, Texas.