Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Blazing Star, Gayfeather

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Distribution: United States

Hardiness: 3a

Life form: Perennial plant

Comments: 'Floristan Violet' (also known as Gayfeather) is widely grown as a commercial cut flower. Plants form a low clump (which may be easily divided every 3 to 4 years during the spring) of grassy looking leaves bearing tall spikes of bright magenta-purple flowers beginning in midsummer all the way into early fall. It's known for being drought tolerant, very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as deer and rabbit resistant. Whilst young, plants may need to be staked for upright growth habit to form.