Perennial of the Asteraceae family, Liatris spicata is native to eastern North America, where it inhabits wet meadows, marsh edges, and open clearings, from sea level to hills.
It forms upright and vigorous clumps, reaching 80 cm in height at maturity, originating from a fleshy underground corm. The leaves are linear, numerous, alternate, bright green, and gradually spaced along the stems. The inflorescence is a dense, elongated spike, composed of many small sessile capitula of a bright pink-purple to purple, covered with slightly feathery tubular flowers.
Distinctive and uncommon characteristic: the flowering progresses from the top to the base of the spike, contrary to most floral spikes.
In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from July to September. In cultivation, it generally occurs from July to August.
It thrives in full sun, in well-drained soil, even poor and dry. It tolerates summer heat and withstands winter cold well. Easy to cultivate, it is suitable for natural beds, prairie gardens, and large rockeries.