In this Native Plant Spotlight, we are focused on Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata). Liatris spicata produces striking spikes of purple feathery flowers that are a wonderful addition to home landscaping. It reaches 2-6 feet in height. We have found it to stay closer to 2-4 feet in our gardens here at the farm. The blooms open here on the farm in late June and last for about 3 weeks. It is the most moisture tolerant of the Liatris species, so it does well in the marshy areas on our property. But it will also do well in average garden soil and the main image of this post shows it thriving in our gardens. It prefers full sun, but will also tolerate some light shade.
Dense Blazing star is a larval host plant for the flower moths Schinia gloriosa and Schinia sanguinea, both of which feed exclusively on the genus. It is also recommended as a nectar source for the imperiled Monarch Butterfly! If you are looking to add this beauty to your own home landscape, we’ve got it! You can easily schedule a time to visit us on our website. We look forward to seeing you!
Additional Sources for information include:
🌿 Botanical and Horticultural Profiles
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Provides a comprehensive plant profile, including habitat preferences, morphological details, and ecological relationships.
🔗 wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LISP (This is an amazing database! You will need to enter the common or scientific name)
Missouri Botanical Garden – Plant Finder
Offers insights into cultivation practices, plant characteristics, and notable cultivars like ‘Kobold’.
🔗 missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d780
🐝 Ecological and Pollinator Information
USDA Forest Service – Wildflowers of the Southern Region
Describes habitat management practices, such as prescribed burns, that benefit Dense Blazing Star populations and their associated pollinators.
🔗 fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/regions/southern/DenseBlazingStarField/
Alabama Wildlife Federation – Plant ID
Highlights the plant’s role in supporting butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds, along with its adaptability to various garden settings.
🔗 alabamawildlife.org/oc-plant-id-dense-blazing-star/
🌎 Conservation and Status Reports
COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report (Canada)
An in-depth evaluation of the species’ distribution, population trends, and threats within Canada.
🔗 canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/dense-blazing-star-2010.html
Ontario Recovery Strategy
Outlines recovery objectives and actions for Dense Blazing Star populations in Ontario.
🔗 ontario.ca/page/dense-blazing-star-recovery-strategy
📚 General Reference
Wikipedia – Liatris spicata
Provides an overview of the species, including taxonomy, cultivation, ecological interactions, and traditional uses.
🔗 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liatris_spicata