Liatris Pycnostachya

Also known as "Prairie blazing star" or "Kansas Gayfeather", this is perhaps the tallest Liatris species in cultivation, typically growing 2-4' tall (infrequently to 5'). Rounded, fluffy, deep rose-purple flower heads are crowded into terminal spikes (to 20" long) atop thickly-leafed, rigid flower stalks. Flowers generally open top to bottom on the spikes. Pycnostachya means "crowded" in Greek, in probable reference to the arrangement of both flower heads and leaves, this species being distinguished from other Liatris species by its reflexed, long-tipped involucral bracts.