Native Plants

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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Liatris scariosa

Liatris scariosa (L.) Willd.

Devil's Bite, Large Blazing Star, Large Gayfeather, Large Liatris, Savanna Blazing Star, Savanna Gayfeather, Savanna Liatris

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: lisc2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A spike of rayless, pink-lavender flower heads in interrupted clusters on a tall, smooth or downy stem.

The flower heads and broad leaves with well-separated stalks are characteristic of the very similar Liatris species found in the same range; these may eventually prove to be variants of a single species.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , GA , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WI , WV
Native Distribution: Wisconsin east to New York and Maine, south to Georgia, west to Arkansas, and north to Missouri and Illinois.
Native Habitat: Dry woods and clearings.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Loam, Sand

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native wildflowers for Northern Indiana
May 08, 2007
I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Saturday April 21. What a beautiful place. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. I was wondering how I could find out w...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	UPL				FACU			UPL	UPL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Liatris scariosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Liatris scariosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Liatris scariosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-29
Research By: TWC Staff

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