Liatris spicata
A tall, drought-tolerant North American native perennial with grass-like foliage and bottlebrush spikes of purple flowers that bloom mid-summer to early fall, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, deer resistant, and attracting bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.
Common Names
Blazing Star, Gayfeather, Dense Blazing Star, Marsh Blazing Star, Button Snakewort, Snakeroot, Dense Button Snakeroot, Kansas Gay Feather, Dense Gayfeather, Sessile-Headed Blazing Star, Spike Gayfeather, Blazing Stars, Marsh Gayfeather, Prairie Star, Prairie Gay Feather, Marsh Liatris, Dense Liatris
Summary
Liatris spicata is a herbaceous perennial native to eastern and central North America, commonly called blazing star or gayfeather. It forms a grass-like clump with tall, erect spikes of purple flowers that open from the top down, reaching about 2–5 feet in height and blooming mid-summer to autumn. Nectar and pollen attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and seed heads provide winter interest for birds.
It grows in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and tolerates a range of soils, across USDA zones 3–9. Propagation is by seed sown in pots after cold stratification (30–60 days) or by division in spring; first bloom from seed typically occurs in the second year, while divisions can bloom in year one. Plant corms 12–15 inches apart and 2–4 inches deep; water after planting and then rely on established moisture, with deadheading and cutting back after flowering. It is generally pest- and disease-free when drainage is good, and it is valued for borders, meadows, prairie plantings, wildlife gardens, and as cut flowers.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-4 feet
Spread
12-15 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained, moist soil with a light to medium texture (loam preferred), pH 5.6–7.5
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained soil.
Soil pH
5.6-8.0, no single ideal pH; tolerates acidic to alkaline or neutral soils.
Bloom Color
Purple
Bloom Time
Summer to Fall
Foliage Color
Green to bronze in fall
Fall Foliage Color
Rich bronze
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall.
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Bees, butterflies, birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) Willd.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 3: 1636 (1803)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Subfamily
- Asteroideae
- Tribe
- Eupatorieae
- Subtribe
- Liatrinae
- Genus
- Liatris
Inferior Taxa
Liatris spicata var. resinosa Liatris spicata var. savannensis Liatris spicata var. glabrata
Synonyms
Liatris spicata f. spicata Lacinaria spicata Lacinaria elongata Liatris magnifica Liatris vittata Liatris pumila Liatris spicata var. spicata Liatris vittata Liatris resinosa Serratula spicata Liatris turbinata Lacinaria spicata f. spicata Liatris sessiliflora Kuhnia spicata Lacinaria vittata Lacinaria spicata var. spicata Liatris macrostachya Kuhnia spicata Liatris picta Suprago spicata Liatris pilosa