46 Nebraskaland • May 2023
hat would you want if we were trying to design
the perfect wildfl ower? On my list of attributes, I'd
include beautiful blossoms, abundant resources for
pollinators, and an ability to spread itself around
the landscape — but not in an aggressive way. As a bonus,
it would be helpful if it could withstand drought and heavy
grazing pressure. We don't want to have to coddle our perfect
wildfl ower, after all. It should be able to survive without any
extra eff ort from us.
Gosh, wouldn't a plant like that be wonderful?
Yes, it is.
The incredible dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata) doesn't
get nearly enough attention, given its near perfection. Its
only fl aw might be that it doesn't do well in well-watered
productive conditions. It scoff s at dark fl uff y humus and ample
soil moisture. Nutrients are for the weak. Dotted gayfeather
thrives best in dry dirt the color of faded leather work gloves.
Out here in the Plains, we survive on stubbornness and spite.
I've long appreciated dotted gayfeather, but my admiration
has grown even stronger in recent years as I've paid more
attention to its toughness and resilience. The species grows
abundantly in our family prairie in southern Hamilton
County, fl ourishing even on previously-farmed loess slopes
where mighty big bluestem tops out its growth below the
height of my knee caps. During periods of drought, it seems
to carry on as if nothing is happening, blooming prolifi cally
when most of its neighbors are wilted and brown.
Cattle will graze dotted gayfeather, but it's far from their
fi rst choice in most situations. It has stiff , narrow and
pointy leaves that must not scream out "dinnertime" to
The Perfect
Wildfl ower
Story and photos by Chris Helzer
W
Why Dotted Gayfeather
is a Contender
