Devil’s Bite: A Native Wildflower That’s Actually Quite Nice
Despite its rather ominous name, devil’s bite (Liatris scariosa var. scariosa) is actually a delightful native wildflower that deserves a spot in your garden. This charming perennial brings a touch of wild beauty to landscapes across the eastern United States, and it’s far more angelic than its common name suggests!
What Makes Devil’s Bite Special?
Devil’s bite is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the blazing star family. What sets this native beauty apart is its unique flowering habit – unlike most plants that bloom from bottom to top, devil’s bite flowers open from the top of the spike downward, creating a distinctive cascading effect of purple-pink blooms.
This native forb grows naturally across eleven states in the eastern United States, including Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. As a true native species, it has co-evolved with local wildlife and plays an important role in supporting regional ecosystems.
Why You’ll Love Growing Devil’s Bite
There are plenty of reasons to welcome this native wildflower into your garden:
- Pollinator magnet: The distinctive flower spikes are irresistible to butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects
- Low maintenance: Once established, devil’s bite is quite drought tolerant and requires minimal care
- Unique blooming pattern: The top-down flowering creates an eye-catching display that’s different from most garden plants
- Native credentials: Supporting local ecosystems while adding beauty to your landscape
- Perennial reliability: This long-lived plant will return year after year
Perfect Garden Settings
Devil’s bite shines brightest in naturalistic settings. It’s an excellent choice for:
- Prairie gardens and meadow plantings
- Native plant gardens
- Pollinator gardens
- Naturalized areas of your landscape
- Mixed perennial borders with a wild, informal feel
Growing Devil’s Bite Successfully
The good news is that devil’s bite is relatively easy to grow, especially if you can provide conditions similar to its natural habitat.
Growing Conditions: This native wildflower thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. It’s quite adaptable and can handle a range of soil types, though it performs best when drainage is good. Devil’s bite is hardy in USDA zones 5-9, making it suitable for most temperate gardens.
Planting Tips: Plant devil’s bite in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. Give plants adequate spacing as they can spread naturally over time. In very fertile soils, the stems may grow tall enough to require staking, though this is typically not necessary in average garden conditions.
Care and Maintenance: Once established, devil’s bite is refreshingly low-maintenance. Water regularly during the first growing season to help establish a strong root system, then let nature take over. The plant’s drought tolerance makes it perfect for gardeners who prefer a more hands-off approach.
Supporting Native Ecosystems
By choosing devil’s bite for your garden, you’re doing more than just adding pretty flowers – you’re supporting the complex web of native wildlife that depends on indigenous plants. Native insects, in particular, have evolved alongside plants like devil’s bite and rely on them for food and habitat.
While the specific wildlife benefits of this particular variety aren’t extensively documented, plants in the Liatris genus are known to support various butterfly species and other pollinators throughout their range.
The Bottom Line
Don’t let the name fool you – devil’s bite is actually a garden angel in disguise. This native wildflower offers unique beauty, supports local wildlife, and asks for very little in return. If you’re looking to add some authentic regional character to your landscape while supporting pollinators, devil’s bite might just be the perfect addition to your garden palette.
Whether you’re creating a dedicated native plant garden or simply want to incorporate more indigenous species into your landscape, devil’s bite proves that native plants can be both ecologically valuable and aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes the best garden choices are the ones that have been growing in your region all along!
