Liatris is a tall, upright, clump-forming perennial plant in moist lowlands, meadows, and marshes. It produces sessile, rounded, fluffy, white flower heads atop rigid, erect, leafy stalks.

At the plant's base is a tuft of narrow, medium-green leaves. As the stem leaves grow taller, they gradually decrease in size. Liatris blooms in the summer and its flower heads are composed of fluffy disk flowers that resemble "blazing stars." Another common name for Liatris is gayfeather due to its feathery flower heads.

For optimal growth, Liatris requires well-drained soil in full sun. While it can tolerate poor soils, it prefers moist, fertile ones and performs better in moist soils than other Liatris species. Liatris is intolerant of wet soils in winter but can withstand summer heat and humidity. Although it can be grown from seed, Liatris is slow to establish.