Blazing star

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade, but flowers less freely and may lean.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Established clumps tolerate short dry spells, but flower best with moisture during growth and flowering.

Soil

Average to moderately fertile soil that retains some moisture but drains well. Tolerates clay if it is not persistently waterlogged, especially in winter.

Height

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late summer; usually purple to rose-purple, with white-flowered selections also available.

Foliage

Narrow, grasslike green leaves form a basal tuft and continue up the stems, becoming smaller toward the flower spikes. Dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate; usually takes two or three growing seasons to form a substantial flowering clump.

Care needed

Low

• Water newly planted corms and plants regularly through their first growing season, without keeping the soil saturated.
• Water established plants during prolonged dry weather, particularly while flower spikes are developing.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding, which encourages weak, floppy growth.
• Mulch lightly around plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the crowns.
• Support tall stems early if your site is windy; divide crowded clumps in spring when flowering declines.

Pruning. Leave faded spikes standing for seed-eating birds and winter structure, or remove them after flowering for a tidier appearance. Cut dead stems close to ground level in late winter or early spring before new shoots develop.

Late winter

Cut down last year's stems if you left them standing over winter.

Spring

Plant corms or container-grown plants in a sunny position with good drainage.

Early spring

Divide overcrowded clumps as growth starts, retaining healthy corms with buds.

Late spring

Apply a thin layer of compost and place discreet supports around tall plants in exposed sites.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry spells and cut flower stems when the upper florets begin opening.

Autumn

Leave seedheads for birds, or collect ripe seed before it disperses.

• Repeat small groups through a sunny mixed border to create upright accents among rounded flowerheads.
• Combine with coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and ornamental grasses in prairie-style planting.
• Plant in a sunny rain-garden margin where soil stays moist but does not remain waterlogged.
• Grow in a cutting border for narrow, long-lasting flower spikes.

Garden styles it suits: Native meadow, New perennial (prairie), Pollinator garden, Cottage garden, Wildlife garden and Midwest prairie.

Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Switchgrass, Little bluestem, Bee balm and Garden phlox.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for butterflies and bees, including native bees within its North American range. Seedheads feed finches and other seed-eating birds.

• Corm or crown rot in persistently wet soil: improve drainage or move plants to a raised position; discard rotten corms.
• Flopping stems in shade or rich soil: provide more sun, avoid high-nitrogen feed and support stems before they lean.
• Slugs and snails eating emerging shoots: inspect young growth and use hand-picking, barriers or locally approved controls.
• Powdery mildew on crowded or stressed plants: improve airflow, water the soil during drought and remove badly affected foliage.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard, but it is not a food plant and eating plant material may cause stomach upset.

• Rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

  Its rounded flowerheads are spaced apart along the stem, giving a beaded appearance; Liatris spicata has closely packed heads forming a dense spike.

• Spiked speedwell (Veronica spicata)

  Has broader, toothed leaves in opposite pairs and small, distinct flowers that open from the bottom of the spike upward; blazing star has narrow alternate leaves and fluffy heads opening from the top downward.

The Latin epithet spicata means 'spiked', referring to the densely packed flower spikes.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in early spring, separating healthy corms with growing buds. Sow seed outdoors in autumn, or give spring-sown seed a cold, moist treatment; seedlings may take two or three years to flower and may not match named selections.

Accepted botanical name

Liatris spicata

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

Measured

Soil pH 5.6 to 7.5. Average height 125 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.