Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

shortleaf blazing-star, shortleaf gayfeather

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Liatris tenuifolia

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

2.5 - 4 ft tall by 1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

purple

Fruit Color:

white

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies



  • Attracts butterflies and bees.


  • Documented bee visitors include   Agapostemon spleizdens, Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis suinptuosa, Coelioxys mexicana, Megachile albitarsis, M. brevis pseudobreuis, M. briinleyi, M. petulans, Boinbus impatiens and B. pennsylvanicus (Deyrup et al. 2002).


Native Habitats:

Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, dry flatwoods. Also known from some rockland areas in Miami-Dade County.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Two varieties exist, both occur in this area.