This is a native plant, but it is not available in the 2026 Wild Ones plant sale.
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Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
PerennialPrairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Full Sun
Water
Medium
Soil
Loam, Clay
Size
2-5'
Bloom
Purple, Jul–Sep
Why Grow It
Deer Resistant
Great for gardens without fencing
Long Blooming
Flowers for many weeks through the season
Did You Know?
Unlike most flower spikes, Liatris blooms from the top down — a trait almost unique in the plant world.
The roots are corms (bulb-like structures) that can form offshoots over time, slowly expanding the clump.
A single spike can carry hundreds of individual florets packed into a 20-inch-long terminal spike, creating a stunning late-summer display.
Wildlife Value
🦋
Monarch Butterfly
Major nectar source during late-summer migration
🐝
Native Bees
Dense flower spikes attract many specialist pollinators
🐦
Goldfinch
Pulls apart dried heads to eat seeds in autumn
Good Companions
💛 Black-eyed Susan
🌸 Wild Bergamot
🌾 Big Bluestem
⚪ Wild Quinine
Planting Guide
- Plant corms 3 inches deep in moist to medium prairie soil.
- Needs full sun; does best in heavy clay or loam soils.
- No staking needed; blooms top-down from July to September.
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li