Plants 35-75 cm. Corms mostly globose. Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, narrowly oblanceolate, (50-)90-150 × (2-)4-9(-12) mm wide, usually abruptly, sometimes gradually, reduced distally, glabrous or sparsely pilose (abaxially), gland-dotted (proximal margins sparsely pilose-ciliate). Heads in loose, racemiform to spiciform arrays (not secund, internodes 6-20 mm). Peduncles 0 or (ascending) mostly 2-12 mm. Involucres campanulate-cylindric, (6-)7-9 × 3.5-4.5(-5) mm. Phyllaries usually in 3-5(-6) series, in 5-6(-7) series in largest heads, ovate-triangular to oblong, unequal, glabrous, margins with narrow, hyaline borders (lacking at apices), sometimes sparsely ciliolate, apices acute to obtuse-angled (with thickened, not markedly involute, apicula). Florets 7-10(-12); corolla tubes pilose inside. Cypselae (2-)3-4 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate. 2n = 20.

Flowering (Jul-)Aug-Oct(-Nov). Edges of swampy woods, stream margins, slopes, clearings, edges of upland woods, rocky woods, pine-oak woods, mixed deciduous woods, roadsides, Iredell soils, clays; 50-1000 m; Ga., N.C., S.C., Va.

Liatris virgata is characterized by its non-congested arrangement of heads, often on a slightly zigzag axis, and especially by its relatively thickened phyllaries with angled apices (acute to obtuse-apiculate). The name Liatris regimontis has been misapplied to the species now identified as L. cokeri.