Prairie Blazingstar
Liatris pycnostachya
A tall, dramatic native perennial that sends up striking purple flower spikes that bloom from top to bottom in late summer, creating a unique spectacle in prairie gardens. This pollinator magnet is essential for monarch butterfly migration and adds stunning vertical interest to any native plant garden.
Harvest
Not applicabled
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
3.5 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Prairie Blazingstar in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 native-wildflower →Zone Map
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Prairie Blazingstar · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low.
Harvesting
Achenes with light brown hairs. Seeds distributed by the wind.
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Central U.S.A
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Drought, Heat, Humidity
- +Attracts: Herbaceous Perennial, Wildflower
- +Wildlife value: This plant attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Birds will eat the seeds.
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Little Bluestem Grass
Provides structural support and creates natural prairie ecosystem conditions
Purple Coneflower
Shares similar growing conditions and attracts beneficial pollinators
Wild Bergamot
Attracts native bees and butterflies while deterring harmful insects
Black-eyed Susan
Blooms at different times extending pollinator season and shares soil preferences
Butterfly Milkweed
Attracts monarch butterflies and other pollinators, thrives in similar dry conditions
Wild Lupine
Fixes nitrogen in soil and supports native butterfly larvae
Sideoats Grama
Native grass that provides wind protection and natural prairie habitat structure
New England Aster
Extends blooming season into fall and shares root zone compatibility
Keep Apart
Crown Vetch
Aggressive invasive that outcompetes native plants and disrupts prairie ecosystem
Kentucky Bluegrass
Non-native cool season grass that forms dense sod and crowds out prairie plants
Tree of Heaven
Produces allelopathic chemicals that inhibit growth of native prairie plants
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance, may rot in overly wet conditions
Common Pests
Liatris borer, aphids
Diseases
Root rot in wet soils, rust