Liatris pilosa aka Grass Leaf Gayfeather

Liatris pilosa is a slender perennial in the daisy family. Common names include sandhills blazing star and shaggy blazing star. It grows wild in the eastern United States. Its range runs from southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Florida and Alabama. Much of that range follows the coastal plain. Wild plants grow in pine sandhills, barrens, and dry woods. They also occur near streams, in fields, and on road banks.

Garden plants reach 1–3 feet (0.30–0.91 metres) tall. They spread 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 metres) wide. A single upright stem rises from a basal leaf tuft. The green stem has fine, darker ridges and no branches. Narrow basal leaves reach 1 foot (0.30 metres) long. Their edges bear hairs, and fine hairs cover the undersides. Leaves alternate along the stem and shrink toward its tip. The top leaves are thin and needle-like.

Pink to purple flowers form spikes above the leaves. Bloom runs from August through November. Flowers open first at the top, then farther down. Each head holds seven to ten small, tubular florets. Each floret has five lobes with rounded tips. Long-tongued bees and butterflies visit the flowers. The plant also draws other pollinators and songbirds. Its dry fruits, called achenes, appear from September through December.

Grow this plant in full sun with free-draining soil. It prefers dry sand or rocky ground and acidic soil. It withstands heat, drought, and poor soil. Wet ground does not suit it, and shade makes stems lanky. The source lists no insect or disease problems. It rates maintenance needs as low. The plant suits USDA hardiness zones 6–9. Grow new plants from seeds or corms. Seed-grown plants can take longer to establish.

The upright stems add height without forming a broad plant. Use them in borders, meadows, or naturalized planting areas. They also suit native, cottage, and drought-tolerant gardens. Their long bloom season supports butterfly and pollinator gardens. The flowers work well for cutting. Names need care when buying or identifying this plant. NC State warns that some plants bearing this name are actually Liatris elegantula. Its page also distinguishes this species from Liatris virgata.