Native to the wet prairies of the American mid-west, these plants provide for the needs of many pollinators while enriching summer gardens with beautiful feathery, purple blooms, hence, one of its common names, Gay Feathers. The blooms make good cut flowers both fresh and dried, the dried ones having a light vanilla scent. They will grow best in full sun with a moist, well-drained soil to a height of 3 ft. They’re a must for the butterfly garden.