The narrow, curving flower spikes on this eastern U.S. native meadow denizen are a very pretty lilac-rose. A vigorous, middle- or back-of-the-border perennial that forms colonies in moister soils and bears whorls of red-tinged leaves on branched stems tipped with the candle-like flowers, mostly in the second half of summer. Great with other loose and natural perennials like the grasses and fellow moist meadow plants, or paired with other late bloomers like Japanese anemones. Tough, reliable, and rarely needs staking.