This is Liatris spicata, also known as Gayfeather, Blazing Star, Button Snakeroot, and Marsh Blazing Star. This native North American plant is perfectly suited for our native butterflies. When this plant is in full blossom it will be the most spectacular plant in your garden. It is breath taking when it is in all of its glory. This perennial nectar plant is a huge hit with the bees, birds, and butterflies, and the hummingbirds especially like this plant. It can grow to as high as 4 feet and likes the full sun but can tolerate partial shade. The butterflies like it best when it is in the sun. The tubers of this plant are edible, but only the part of tuber that grew during the last year is tender enough to eat. You can harvest one year old plants and eat the entire tuber from these plants. It is like blazing star veal. Liatris spicata is the larval host plant for the Painted Lady and Silvery Checkerspot butterflies. The butterflies that like to nectar on this plant are the Common Buckeye, Gulf Fritillary, Silver-Spotted Skipper, and Monarch. This gorgeous plant blooms from the middle of the Summer until the early Fall. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 10