Blazing Star Flower

​Liatris spicata

• Common Name:  Blazing Star, other common names, Prairie Star, Gayfeather
  
• Scientific Name:  Liatris spicata
  
• Family Name:  Asteracease
  
• Origin:  North America and Bahamas
  
• Height:  3’ to 6’
  
• Width:  1’ to 2’
  
• Growth:  Moderate
  
• Zone: 3 – 10’
  
• Light Needs:  Full sun
  
• Salt Tolerance:  Poor
  
• Soil/PH/Texture:  Not particular about soil pH or texture but it needs to be well drained.
  
• Soil Moisture: Well drained, does not like wet feet
  
• Drought Tolerance:  Good
  
• Pests/Diseases:  Rare but can get leaf spot or rust or powdery mildew
  
• Growing Conditions:  Grow from tubers under the ground, deadheading promotes bigger blooms
  
• Characteristics:  Blazing Star is an erect, slender perennial reaching a height of 3-4 ft. The linear, grass-like leaves are clumped toward the base of the plant, but extend up the stem to the showy flower cluster. A tall spike of rayless, rose-purple (sometimes white), closely set flower heads. The purple, tufted flower heads are arranged in a long, dense spike blooming from the top down.
  
• Propagation:  Self-seeds, spreads through underground roots, divide corms every 2 or 3 years.
  
• Wildlife:  Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and bumble bees, deer resistant
  
• Facts:  Blazing Star is a summer-blooming perennial with grassy foliage and fuzzy, bottle-brush flowers. The distinctive flower spikes stand 2 to 4-feet-tall and are magnets for butterflies.
  
• Designer Considerations:  This North American wildflower makes an attractive addition to flower gardens, cutting gardens, landscaped areas and informal plantings.  Sometimes used in floral bouquets. 

Blazing Star

Back to Rose Garden

Location

Native Garden