Blazing Star
Location
Native Plants
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.
