|                    Shortleaf gayfeather
                      |  
              
                |                    Liatris tenuifolia var. tenuifolia  
                      |  
              
                |                    Asteraceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.  Also wildflower gardens. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Medium herbaceous wildflower. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 4-8 inches; 2-3 feet when in flower. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Southeastern United States south to Indian River and Highlands counties; disjunct in Miami-Dade County. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Pinelands. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist to dry, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Full sun. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Rose-purple. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Showy flowering spikes. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 Summer-fall. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous achene. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Nectar plant for butterflies. Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects. Valuable source of insects for birds. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from seed. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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