Botanical Name: Liatris punctata
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Common Name: Spotted Gayfeather, Dotted Gayfeath  
Plant photo of: Liatris punctata
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial, Wildflower

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Pink, Violet

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Attracts Bees

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Native Garden

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Parking Strip

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers

 

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Spotted Gayfeather provides a unique vertical accent to a perennial border. Its clumping, upright foliage is grass-like, with long narrow blades; whorls of flowers form on stiff stems creating magenta- pink spires. Blooms late summer. 12 to 18 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide. A native to the shortgrass prairies of the Great Plains foothills of New Mexico and Colorado. The most xeric of the liatris. Excellent cut flower. Attracts butterflies and is deer resistant.
Grows in most soils, even clay, as long as it is well draining. Plant in full sun. Deep rooted and long-lived, it generally doesn't require dividing. More drought tolerant than L. spicata. There are some planted at the Washington Square Conservation Demonstration Garden.