Native Habitat:
Meadows, prairies, open woodlands, and roadsides throughout North America.
 
Bloom Time:
June – September
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Perennial clumping herb, 1–3 ft tall, spreading by rhizomes.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soils; tolerates drought.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Camassia quamash, Eriophyllum lanatum, Sidalcea campestris, Festuca roemeri.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Adds fine texture and long-lasting color to sunny garden beds, pollinator borders, and urban meadows. Its feathery foliage provides soft structure and contrast to bold perennials, while the flat-topped flower clusters create a sense of cohesion across plantings. Performs beautifully in low-water landscapes and can thrive in parking strips, green roofs, or habitat gardens where resilience and adaptability are key.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Attracts butterflies such as painted ladies (Vanessa cardui), native bees, syrphid flies, and beneficial predatory insects like lacewings and lady beetles.
 
Historical Use:
Used by Indigenous peoples for teas, poultices, and as a general medicinal herb for wound care.