Garber’s gayfeather
Liatris garberi
Asteraceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Medium herbaceous wildflower.
Height:
About 2-3 inches in height; to 3 feet when in flower. Usually taller than broad, but falling over and forming open patches.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties. Perhaps extirpated in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Habitats:
Pinelands.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Dark purplish.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Summer-fall.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous achene.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Nectar plant for butterflies. Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects. Valuable source of insects for birds.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed.
Comments:


Keith A. Bradley