Habitat: Woodlands, barrens, clearings, and flatwoods over mafic and calcareous rocks, as well as on acidic, alternately wet-and-dry clay soils; in wet-mesic prairies along small-river floodplains in Augusta County. Rare in all Virginia physiographic provinces, with few extant sites.
Wildlife Value: Attracts pollinator insects including wasps, flies, bees, and butterflies like monarchs and skippers. Soldier beetles eat the pollen. The rattlesnake master stem-borer moth (Papaipema eryngii) uses the plant as a larval host.
Note: Leaves end in stiff spines that could be unpleasant if planted near a walkway.
High Value Generalist
Earth Sangha lists this plant as a "High Value Generalist" because it is easy to grow, occurs across a wide range of habitats and is known to be of high value to wildlife
My Native Garden
Put together a printable/downloadable list of plants that you have in your garden.