**Description:** A late-blooming fall flower with deep purple petals and a bright yellow center; one of the last to bloom before frost.
**Size:** 3 to 6 feet tall.
**Wildlife Value:** Critical fuel source for Monarch butterflies during fall migration; supports dozens of late-season native bee species.
**Identification:** Look for hairy stems and narrow leaves that clasp the stem. Features a high number of narrow ray petals.
**Habitat:** Moist meadows and roadside ditches.