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Very funy shape, attractive to wildlife:

https://chapollinator.org/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/Lookout_Mountain_1.jpg

https://chapollinator.org/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/Garden_Hero_3.jpg

https://chapollinator.org/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/Garden_Hero.jpg

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  • Nice pictures. It could be helpful to add some pictures of the leaves and whole plant as well. Also the location would help, hummingbirds imply new world, right?
    – benn
    Aug 16, 2018 at 9:59
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    These links appear to point to images from a website about Chattanooga, Tennessee. Likely no further images available.
    – Colin Beckingham
    Aug 16, 2018 at 11:50

1 Answer 1

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I think it's actually Liatris squarrosa. The open "button" flowers (as opposed to the more often seen purple spikes) are one of its characteristics

Liatris squarrosa in Tennessee

Liatris squarrosa habit

Another characteristic is the scaly flower bracts, shown clearly in the first photo. It all the scales were out and then downward-pointing (like a collie's ears), then it might be L. ligulistylis.

It's relatively small for a liatris, and somewhat later blooming than most. For example, in my garden in southern Wisconsin, L. spicata is just finished, L. ligulistylis is starting, L. cylindracea is in mid-bloom, and L. punctata and L. squarrosa haven't begun blooming yet.

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    I think you are right. I withdrew my suggestion. Good call.
    – Colin Beckingham
    Aug 16, 2018 at 13:43
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    "... L. spicata ... L. ligulistylis ... L. cylindracea ... L. punctata .. L. squarrosa ..." :-o :-o :-o Jaw-dropper!
    – VividD
    Aug 16, 2018 at 19:13
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    @VividD No kidding! Liatris is one of my favorite genus of perennials! Jurp, what a 'name dropper' huh? I've got this giggle that won't stop! Jurp! which is your favorite?
    – stormy
    Aug 16, 2018 at 19:32
  • @Storm - I only knew L. spicata until I began working at The Flower Factory, where they had/have over ten different liatris (and 2500+ other perennials). It was a great place to work. I thought I knew perennials until I started there. Very humbling at first. L. ligulistylis is probably my favorite, because it tends to have strong stems, bloom for a long time, and is a monarch magnet. The monarchs sold the plants for us - sometimes five or six on just one or two blooming scapes. They occasionally even went home with our customers.
    – Jurp
    Aug 16, 2018 at 22:19
  • How cool the monarchs helped you sell these plants, too cute! Wonderful story.
    – stormy
    Aug 21, 2018 at 23:01

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