Liatris elegans (Walter) Michx.

Elegant Blazing Star; Pink Scale Gayfeather

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Elegant Gayfeather is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found in the southern half of Alabama. Elegant Gayfeather occurs in dry or mesic pine forests, dry scrub oak woods, in sand hills, on roadside banks, and on dunes. It is a perennial from a corm. Stems are 1-3 feet in length, erect, unbranched (unless damaged), and pubescent. Leaves are basal and cauline. The basal leaves are larger than the stem leaves and may not be present at flowering. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate to oblanceolate in outline, glabrous or pubescent, and gland dotted. The middle and upper stem leaves are often deflexed. Flowers are produced in heads. Heads are arranged in dense spike-like arrays at the top of the plant. The heads are short peduncled or sessile. The phyllaries are enlarged, petal-like, and white to pink or lavender in color. Each head contains 4-5 white funnelform flowers. The fruit is an achene with plumose pappus bristles. Elegant Gayfeather is an interesting member of the genus in that the phyllaries are showier than the actual flowers. It is easily cultivated in a dry, sandy, sunny spot. It is available from some nurseries as either corms (usually called bulbs) or as seed. Plants generally flower in the second year from seed. Two varieties are reported from Alabama, but many of our plants appear intermediate in characteristics. Liatris elegans (Walter) Michaux var. elegans is the most common variety. It has corms that are depressed-globose and phyllaries that are pink to lavender in color. Liatris elegans (Walter) Michaux var. kralii Mayfield has corms that are elongate and tapering, and phyllaries that are light yellow or cream, sometimes fading to pale lavender or rose.--A. Diamond

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Native

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