Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Liatris

Species:

Liatris elegans

USDA Symbol:

LIEL

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Geophyte

Height:

120 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

aug,sep,oct,nov

Bloom Colors:

pink, purple, white

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Hummingbirds:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies, birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from corm following fire. Associated with fire-maintained pine savannas and sandhills.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

Prefers open, sunny habitats like prairies and savannas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate best with cold stratification followed by warm temperatures. Light may improve germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI