Thrives in full sun and sandy, well-drained soils, with excellent drought tolerance once established. It’s a low-maintenance annual or short-lived perennial that prefers lean soils and dry conditions.

A compact, free-flowering plant that self-seeds easily without being pushy, it’s perfect for meadow plantings, borders, or filling in gaps with color. It blooms quickly and generously, even in tough spots.

Native to the south-central U.S., especially the Great Plains and Gulf Coast, and now naturalized in many states. Found in sandy prairies, coastal dunes, and open fields.

Foliage appears in spring, followed by a long, colorful bloom period stretching into fall. Spent blooms age into fluffy seed heads that persist into early winter and add texture.

Provides abundant nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and native bees, and is especially attractive to long-tongued pollinators. Birds may feed on the seeds in fall and winter.