Scaly Liastris Liatris squarrosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lacinaria squarrosa
- Serratula squarrosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-AY-tris skwa-RO-suh
- Description
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Scaly blazing star is a native perennial wildflower in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is native to the North Central and Eastern United States and is found in dry, sandy prairies or woodlands. This flowering plant is the earliest to bloom in the Liatris family. The spiky, pinkish-purple flowers appear from late summer into the fall. The plant grows 1 to 3 feet tall from corms and has small, medium-green, linear, grass-like leaves and one-inch flowerheads with squarish bracts, spaced along an erect, unbranched stem. The specific epithet squarrosa means "scaly or rough" and refers to the spreading or curling bracts of the flowerheads.
Grow this plant in well-drained, dry, slightly acidic, sandy or rocky soils in full sun. It is hardy in zones 4-8. It is drought- and poor-soil tolerant. Propagated by division in either the spring or fall. Deadhead spent flowers and cut back foliage in late winter or early spring.
This plant attracts hummingbirds, moths, butterflies, and other pollinators. It is also the larval host plant for the Blazingstar Flower Moth, Blazingstar Borer Moth, and Liatris Borer Moth. Cattle, sheep, horses, deer, and rabbits also feast on the foliage and flowerheads. It can be used in the native pollinator garden in the middle border or in small groups. It can also be used in naturalized areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally no significant insect pests or diseases. Monitor for aphids. Overwatering or poorly drained soils can cause root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Liatris
- Species:
- squarrosa
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North Central and Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Native: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Cattle, horses, sheep, and deer graze on foliage and flowerheads.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a cypsela, but it is referred to as an achene. The fruits appear in clusters of hairy, bullet-shaped achenes with tufts of barbed hairs. Each achene measures 4-6 mm long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The spike-like flowerhead measures 2 to 8 inches long and occurs at the terminal end of the stem. Multiple small disc flowers are arranged in heads, measuring 0.5 to 0.75 inches wide. They are sparsely arranged along the somewhat zigzag stem. The flowerhead consists of 10 to 60 individual pinkish-purple, tubular, 5-lobed disc florets. The scaly bracts are either straight or recurved and loosely arranged around the base of each flowerhead. This is one of the early-blooming Liatris plants. Blooms from June to August.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The medium green leaves are 4-6 inches long and about 0.25 inches wide, while becoming gradually smaller as they go up the stem. They may be smooth or have short hairs, sessile, and linear in shape with entire margins.
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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 unbranched, erect, slightly ridged, central green stem can be smooth or hairy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
