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Marcus, Joseph A.
Liatris punctata var. mucronata
Liatris punctata Hook. var. mucronata (DC.) B.L. Turner
Texas Gayfeather, Texas Blazing Star, Texas Liatris, Cusp Liatris, Cusp Blazing Star, Cusp Gayfeather, Narrow-leaf Blazing Star, Narrow-leaf Gayfeather, Purples
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s): Liatris mucronata
USDA Symbol: LIPUM2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
This perennial’s stiff, upright, unbranched stems, 1-3 ft. tall, grow in wide-spreading clumps. The tufted, purple flowers are densely congested in a long spike on the upper part of the stem. The leaves are narrow and crowded, becoming progressively smaller upward.
Liatris species attract butterflies.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: One to three feet in height.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , PurpleBloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec
Distribution
USA: AR , KS , MO , OK , TXNative Distribution: C. Great Plains, s. to TX & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Open fields & woods; calcareous uplands.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Calcareous, rocky soils. Gravelly, Sandy, Limestone-based.
Conditions Comments: Texas Liatris likes a dry to medium soil in full sun. Too much water will leads to root rot. Will self seed in a sandy soil. Tolerant of alkaline soils.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Rocky hillside, Rock gardens.Use Wildlife: Liatris spp. attract butterflies.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Minimal
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Herbarium Specimen(s)
NPSOT 1059 Collected Sep 29, 1995 in Comal County by Mary Beth WhiteNPSOT 0041 Collected Oct. 12, 1990 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-625 Collected 2007-10-30 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterLBJWC-181 Collected 2007-10-28 in Bell County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallyBibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 765 - McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Liatris punctata var. mucronata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Liatris punctata var. mucronata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Liatris punctata var. mucronata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-05Research By: Joseph A. Marcus