Liatris pycnostachya
Common name: Prairie Blazing Star
Like other Liatris species, Prairie Blazing star has thin, lance shaped leaves that surround the base and run up along the single flowering stalk. The flowering stalk typically reaches heights of 4-5 feet, making it the tallest of this genus that we carry. It is topped with a raceme of purple flowers up to 20 inches long that blooms from top to bottom. Blooming occurs in late summer and lasts about a month. Its flowers are a favorite of many bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Flowering stalks can become bent if obstructed from the sun or crowded and can require staking. Voles and other small mammals find the corms of the Liatris to be a tasty treat, and often dig them up and consume them in winter.
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Plant Details
Plant type
Forbs
Soil type
Dry Mesic, Mesic (Not too Wet Not too Dry), Moist Mesic
Light exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun / Part Shade
Bloom period
Summer
Urban environment
Compacted/New Construction Soils, Road-side/Salt Tolerant
Habitat
Prairie Grasslands
Growth form
Shrubby/Clump, Colonizing / Spreading
Growth rate
Moderate
Flower color
Purple
Fall color
Yellow Orange
Size
- Mature height
- 2 Feet
- Mature width
- 1 Feet
- Max height
- 5 Feet
- Max width
- 2 Feet
Additional information
Butterfly host plant Pollinator hot spot