Texas Wildbuds
Liatris elegans
(Pinkscale Gayfeather)
Liatris elegans, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 1392
Liatris elegans and American Bumbe Bee, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 1375
Liatris elegans, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 1523
Liatris elegans, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 1551
Liatris elegans and Longhorn Beetle, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 1537
Liatris elegans, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 1528
Liatris elegans, Scrappin’ Valley, Newton Co. 3678
Liatris elegans, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 1396
| Scientific Name | Liatris elegans (Liatris bridgesii, Liatris hesperelegans) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | LIEL |
| Common Name | Pinkscale Gayfeather, Pinkscale Blazing Star | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 37919 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Sandy soils in open areas in fields, brushlands and woodlands and along roadsides. Plant: Erect perennial with one or 2 stiff, leafy stems from 12 inches to 4 feet tall; pubescent-hairy. Leaves: Basal leaves usually withering before flowering; alternate stem leaves, linear to linear-lanceolate, 2-3/8 to 8 inches long and less than 1/3-inch wide, becoming smallar upward; sessile, hairless and gland-dotted (punctate). Inflorescence: Many white to pink composite flowers in a long crowded cylindrical or somewhat pyramid-shaped spike 6 to 20 inches long; heads usually sessile or with short peduncles and each with 4 or 5 florets with 5 white to pink reflexed corolla lobes. Bloom Period: August to October. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Geyata Ajilvsgi and Flora of North America. Note: L. elegans is divided in recent literature ("The Liatris Elegans Group: Taxonomic Review" by Guy L. Nesom) into other taxa. Accordingly, the plants here found in Bastrop County would likely be called L. bridgesii and those in Newton County, L. hesperelegans. |
BONAP Distribution Map Liatris elegans  Liatris elegans var. bridgesii Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025