Rough Blazing Star, Liatris aspera
 
Rough blazingstar is an airy plant with flower spikes reaching 60 cm to 1.5 m. The bright purple-pink flowers bloom in August and September. 
 
Ecology:
Rough Star is a bee and monarch butterfly magnet. Abundant flowers also attract hummingbirds. Vast amounts of seeds feed songbirds in winter. It is the host plant for several moth species.
 
Growing conditions:
In the wild, rough blazing star grows in prairies, glades, roadsides, savannas, and open woodlands. It is best grown in full sun and thrives in sandy, rocky, well-drained soils with average to dry conditions.