Liatris elegans aka Pinkscale Gayfeather

Liatris elegans is a perennial from the southeastern United States. It belongs to Asteraceae, the daisy family. Common names include elegant blazing star and elegant gay feather. It grows in a temperate climate and has underground tubers. This species is not native to Britain or Ireland. Its leaves die back rather than staying green all year.

Plants form a tuft with very narrow leaves at the base. Leaves also line the lower parts of the flower stems. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Some reach 3.9 feet [1.2 metres], though many stay shorter. Their spread ranges from 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Plants can take two to five years to reach full size. This range in height reflects the species' variable form. The leafy base sits below the tall, narrow flower stems.

Small, tube-shaped flowers form slim spires at the stem tips. Their colour ranges from pale pink to pinkish purple. The flower spires give the plant a strong upright shape. They contrast with the low clump of narrow leaves. RHS lists the species for flower beds and borders. It also suits cottage gardens, informal gardens, and prairie planting. Wildlife gardens are another suggested setting. The flowering stems can also supply cut flowers.

Choose full sun and light soil that drains well. RHS lists sand, loam, clay, and chalk as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline conditions. Soil may be moist, but it must shed excess water. A south-facing site suits its need for sun. RHS lists both open and sheltered sites as suitable. Its UK hardiness rating is H6. This covers winter lows near −4 to 5°F [−20 to −15°C]. RHS classes it as hardy across Britain and northern Europe.

RHS reports few usual problems with pests or disease. Remove spent flowers through the flowering period. Cut the stems to ground level in winter. To raise plants from seed, sow in pots in autumn. Keep these pots in a cold frame. Spring division offers a second way to make more plants. The supplied sources give no species-level guidance on edible parts. They also provide no clear statement about toxicity. Neither food use nor safety can be judged from this evidence.