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Purple Salsify

Tragopogon porrifolius

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in roadsides, fields. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

—
Not native

Not native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height
About 4.5 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Dry to moist
See native alternatives

Plant this instead

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  • Narrowleaf Sunflower
    Helianthus angustifolius

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • Tall Goldenrod
    Solidago altissima

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • Smooth Beggarticks
    Bidens laevis

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Brown/copper or yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle
Biennial
Bloom
April to July
Fruiting season
Spring to summer

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

County records are not available.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

4CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Tragopogon

  • Agrotis malefidaRascal Dart, Pale-Sided Cut-Worm, Shagreened Cut-Worm
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
5BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Tragopogon

  • Centrocercus urophasianusGreater Sage-Grouse
  • Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
  • Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Asteraceae
Hardiness
Zones 5a–9b
Soil pH
Neutral to alkaline
Flower color
Pink or purple
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Single crown
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Spring
Fruit ends
Summer

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Oyster Plant

Conservation status

Arkansas rankSNA
Global rankGNR
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources