Kobold blazing star

Sun

Full sun; light shade is tolerated, but flowering is weaker and stems may lean.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells; avoid ground that stays waterlogged in winter.

Soil

Well-drained soil of average fertility, from sandy loam to clay that drains freely; tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline conditions.

Height

1.5-2.5 ft (0.45-0.75 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late summer; fluffy rose-purple to violet-purple flowers packed along upright spikes.

Foliage

Narrow, grass-like green leaves form a basal clump, with smaller leaves along the flowering stems; foliage dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate; usually forms a substantial flowering clump within two to three growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.3 ft (0.4 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sunny position with good winter drainage.
• Water deeply during establishment, then during extended dry weather.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy feeding, which encourages floppy growth.
• Keep mulch away from the crown, especially in damp climates.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring every three to five years if flowering declines.

Pruning. Remove faded flower spikes if you want a tidier appearance, or leave them for seed-eating birds. Cut dead stems and foliage back near ground level in late winter or early spring before new growth appears.

Late winter

Cut down old stems before new shoots emerge, unless the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Spring

Plant container-grown plants or divide established clumps as growth begins.

Spring

Apply a thin compost dressing and check that mulch is clear of the crown.

Early summer

Water young plants during dry spells and check for slug damage to emerging growth.

Mid- to late summer

Enjoy the flowers; remove spent spikes for neatness or retain them for seed.

Autumn

Leave sound stems standing for birds and winter structure; check that winter rain can drain away.

• Plant in repeated groups through a sunny border to create compact vertical accents.
• Combine with coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and fine-textured grasses for a prairie-style planting.
• Place near paths or seating where visiting butterflies and bees are easy to watch.
• Use in small gardens where taller blazing stars would overwhelm neighbouring plants.
• Pair purple spikes with yellow flowers or silver foliage for clear summer contrast.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, New perennial (prairie), Pollinator garden, Wildlife garden, Midwest prairie and Small-space.

Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Little bluestem, Prairie dropseed, Yarrow and Catmint.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, butterflies and other nectar-feeding insects. Seedheads can feed small seed-eating birds, especially within the plant's North American native range.

• Crown or corm rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised position; discard badly rotted plants.
• Floppy stems in shade or rich soil: move to full sun, reduce feeding and support stems if needed.
• Slugs and snails damaging young shoots: inspect at dusk, remove them by hand and use locally approved controls if necessary.
• Powdery mildew in crowded planting: improve airflow, divide congested clumps and water the soil rather than the foliage.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. It is an ornamental plant, not a food plant.

• Rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

  Its rounded flower heads are usually more widely separated along the stem, rather than packed into the dense, continuous-looking spikes of 'Kobold'.

• Spiked speedwell (Veronica spicata)

  Its spikes generally flower from the bottom upward and carry small, visibly petalled flowers; blazing star opens from the top downward and has fluffy flower heads.

The species name spicata means spike-bearing, referring to the dense upright flower spikes.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring, keeping healthy buds and roots on each section. Division preserves the cultivar; seedlings may vary in height and flower characteristics and should not be assumed to be true 'Kobold'.

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.