Liatris squarrulosa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-AY-tris skwar-yu-LOH-sah
- Description
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Appalachian blazing star is a native herbaceous perennial plant in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. It is found in the central and southeastern United States in meadows and prairies. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in medium to dry soils with good drainage.
The multiple small disc flowers appear in heads arranged on an unbranched stem and bloom mid-summer into fall. It prefers sandy to rocky loams that are well-drained in full sun. It is drought and poor soils tolerant and can be used in the back of the border of native pollinator gardens, cottage or rock gardens and they attract many pollinators.
This plant was selected as the 1998 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
- 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:
- squarrulosa
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, TX, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Attacts pollinators to the flowers
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- 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)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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:
- Tan achene with barbed hairs
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Multiple small disc flowers in button-like heads of pinkish-purple flowers. Individual tubular flowers have 5 petals and long stamens. The heads are either sessile or have short thick stems. The bracts are scale-like and green to tinged purple. Blooms July to October.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The lower green leaves are narrow oblanceolate and up to 11 inches long and .5 inches wide. They become much smaller and oblanceolate to linear as they go alternately up the stem. They are sessile and smooth, hairy or scaly with a single midrib.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are ridged with short hairs and unbranched. They are green to purple-tinged near the top.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- English Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
