Cattail Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-AY-tris pik-no-STA-kee-uh
- Description
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Prairie blazing star is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Often grown as an ornamental, prairie blazing star reaches a maximum height of 5 feet but usually 2-4 feet. The purple disc flowers arranged in heads, are crowded on a coarse, hairy, leafy stem and bloom from top to bottom. The bracts below the heads have long pointed purplish tips that distinguish it from other species. The prairie blazing star is native to the central and southeastern United States where it prefers moist to dry, well-drained soils with full sun exposure. It may also be found in damp prairies and tolerates poor soils, drought and heat conditions. It does not tolerate wet winter soils.
Grow this plant in full sun in average well-drained moist to occasionally dry soil. Perfect for home gardens in the back of the border or in groups for cottage gardens, rock gardens, naturalized areas and pollinator gardens. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and birds will eat the seeds.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Liatris
- Species:
- pycnostachya
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AR , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MI , MN , MO , MS , ND , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SD , TX , WI
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Birds will eat the seeds.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Achenes with light brown hairs. Seeds distributed by the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Spike of .5 in. rose-purple to violet-lavender, cylindrical, stalkless flower heads crowded on a coarse, hairy, very leafy stem. The bracts below the heads have long pointed purplish tips. Flower heads consist of many small disc flowers with 5 lobes and 2 long curly styles.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The basal leaves grow from a corm and are up to 12 inches long and .5 inches wide. They become progressively shorter as they grow alternately up the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stout green stem has numerous small longitudinal ridges and has scattered white hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
