General Information
Status in Florida: Native
Native Habitat: Prairies, meadows, roadsides, and open woodlands
Native States: Eastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and parts of the Midwest
Growing Zones: 5-9
Size at Maturity: 1-2 feet tall, 1-1.5 feet wide
Phenology: Herbaceous perennial
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Moderate
Growth Habit: Clumping, upright
Bloom Season: Spring to early summer
Bloom Color: Purple to blue
 
Growth Conditions
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Texture: Loamy, sandy, well-drained soils
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
Moisture Requirements: Average to dry
Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low/None
Keystone Plant: No
 
Landscape Considerations
Recommended Landscape Uses: Pollinator gardens, wildflower meadows, native plant gardens, garden borders, ground cover in partial shade
Maintenance Tips: Prefers well-drained soils and full sun; deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowering; may need to be divided every few years to prevent overcrowding
Considerations: Can spread by rhizomes and may need to be controlled in small gardens; attracts pollinators, including bees and butterflies
Hurricane Wind Resistant: Moderate
Erosion Control: Yes
Nitrogen Fixing: No
 
Other Information
Edible: Caution (young leaves are edible but may cause irritation in some individuals)
Pet Safe: Yes
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: Yes
Historical Medicinal Uses: Used in folk medicine to treat wounds and inflammations
Florida Native Companion Plant: Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)
Wildlife Benefit: Attracts pollinators, especially bees and butterflies; provides nectar and pollen
Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes (for the Virginia Tiger Moth, Spilosoma virginica)
Propagation: Seeds, division