Liatris virgata: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southeast USA
Plant Profile: Liatris virgata
Taxonomy: Liatris virgataNames
Grassleaf Gayfeather, Grassleaf Liatris, Grass-leaved Blazing-star, Wand Blazing Star, Wand Gayfeather, Wand Liatris
Phonetic Spelling:LY-uh-tris vir-GA-tuh
Genus:Liatris
Species:virgata
Family:Asteraceae
The Grass-leaved Blazing-star, a native perennial belonging to the daisy family, thrives in a variety of environments across North Carolina, particularly in the southern counties. This plant is commonly found in dry to moderately moist woodlands, rocky areas, clearings, and along roadsides. It is recognized for its significant value to wildlife.
This species flourishes best in sandy to rocky soils that are well-drained and enjoys full to mostly sunny conditions. It is an excellent choice for native pollinator gardens due to its resilience against drought and heat.
Liatris virgata Feature Summary
Tags
#purple flowers
#native perennial
#NC native
#food source fall
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#food source hard mast fruit
#nectar plant mid-fall
#audubon
#woodlands
Similar Plants
Liatris virgata is often confused with:
Liatris virgata Feature Summary
Attributes
Southeast USA
DC, DE, GA, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, VA, WV
Native bees are attracted to this plant. Very high wildlife value.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Fruit
Achenes have tufts of barbed hairs in the fall.
Achene
Flowers
Heads of frilly purple disc flowers are arranged in a zig-zag pattern up the stem from Aug.- Oct.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Head
Spike
Summer
Fall
4-5 petals/rays
Tubular
< 1 inch
Leaves
Narrow oblanceolate leaves are basalar with some alternating up the stem. Lower leaves have hairs along the margins.
Green
Simple
Alternate
Oblanceolate
Entire
Stem
Green smooth unbranched stem.
Green
Round
Smooth (glabrous)
Straight
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Erect
Clumping
Medium
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Moist
Occasionally Dry
12 inches-3 feet
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Native Garden
Border
Small groups
Drought
Dry Soil
Woodland
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Hummingbirds
Liatris virgata Image Gallery
Liatris virgata Attributes
Liatris virgata: Distribution
DC, DE, GA, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, VA, WV
Liatris virgata: Wildlife Value
Native bees are attracted to this plant. Very high wildlife value.
Liatris virgata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Liatris virgata: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Liatris virgata Fruit
Liatris virgata: Fruit Description
Achenes have tufts of barbed hairs in the fall.
Liatris virgata: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Liatris virgata: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Liatris virgata Flowers
Liatris virgata: Flower Description
Heads of frilly purple disc flowers are arranged in a zig-zag pattern up the stem from Aug.- Oct.
Liatris virgata: Flower Color
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Liatris virgata: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Liatris virgata: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Liatris virgata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Liatris virgata: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Liatris virgata: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Liatris virgata: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Liatris virgata Leaves
Liatris virgata: Leaf Description
Narrow oblanceolate leaves are basalar with some alternating up the stem. Lower leaves have hairs along the margins.
Liatris virgata: Leaf Color
Green
Liatris virgata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Liatris virgata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Liatris virgata: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Liatris virgata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Liatris virgata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Liatris virgata Stem
Liatris virgata: Stem Description
Green smooth unbranched stem.
Liatris virgata: Stem Color
Green
Liatris virgata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Liatris virgata: Stem Cross Section
Angular
Oval
Round
Square
Liatris virgata: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Liatris virgata: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Liatris virgata Whole Plant Traits
Liatris virgata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Liatris virgata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Liatris virgata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Liatris virgata: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Liatris virgata: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Liatris virgata Cultural Conditions
Liatris virgata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Liatris virgata: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Liatris virgata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Liatris virgata: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Liatris virgata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Liatris virgata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Liatris virgata Landscape
Liatris virgata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Liatris virgata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Liatris virgata: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Liatris virgata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Liatris virgata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
