Rough Blazing-star Liatris aspera
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-AY-tris AS-per-uh
- Description
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Rough Blazing-star is a native perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family that grows from a corm. It is commonly found in prairies glades and barren areas in eastern and central USA. It blooms late summer into fall with spikes of showy purple composite flowers. It is a butterfly magnet.
This plant will adapt to most well-drained soils but prefers an acidic sandy or rocky soil in full sun to partial shade. Use in the native, butterfly, rock or cottage garden near the middle to back of the border. It can also naturalize in the wildflower meadow.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Liatris
- Species:
- aspera
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S.E. Canada to eastern U.S.A.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- The achenes have large tufts of stiff hair that are light greyish brown and are distributed by the wind. Displays from September to October
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Bright purple fluffy looking disc flowers are crowded into rounded groups along the stem. Blooms from August to October
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow lance-shaped basal green leaves up to 12 inches long and 1 inch across. Become shorter and narrow as they go up the stalk. Slightly pubescent.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Central stem green to dark red with short stiff hairs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
