A compact, upright perennial with grass-like foliage topped by dense, fluffy spikes of bright purple to rosy lavender flowers that bloom from mid-summer to late summer. It grows to about 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall, doesn't require staking, and attracts pollinators like butterflies and bees. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but is drought-tolerant and can handle poor, sandy, or clay soils once established.