Blazing Star (Liatris)

Liatris spicata

Blazing Star sends up dramatic purple bottle-brush spikes that bloom from the TOP down (unusual in the plant world). It's a monarch butterfly magnet and one of the best native perennials for cutting — florists love it. The vertical spikes add essential architectural contrast to rounded perennials and grasses. Grows from a corm, not seeds.

Hardiness Zones

3-9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Water Needs

Low

Maintenance

Low

Mature Size

2-4 ft H × 1-2 ft W

Growth Rate

Moderate

Bloom Season

Mid-Late Summer

Bloom Color

Purple, White spikes

Care Guide

Plant corms 3-4 inches deep in full sun with well-drained soil. Do NOT overwater — corms rot in wet winter soil. Sandy or gravelly soil is perfect. No staking needed for shorter varieties. Divide every 4-5 years. Attracts goldfinches to seed heads in fall. Extremely low maintenance.