Liatris microcephala (Appalachian Blazing Star)

This awesome little native Liatris will only reach 2' tall, loves the sun, and is very drought tolerant. As you travel southeast into the Cumberland Plateau region of Kentucky you can find this plant growing in the wild.  Like other Liatris this crazy thing blooms first at the top of its bloom spike and then down unlike most plants with bloom spike who bloom from the bottom up!