Natural History

Dense blazing star

Classification
Kingdom – Plantae
Division – Magnoliophyta
Class – Magnoliopsida
Order – Asterales
Family – Asteraceae (aster family)
Genus species – Liatris spicata (L.) Willd.

Etymology
Liatris means lost in antiquity.
spicata means spiked.

Herbaceous perennial.
Grows 2 to 6 feet tall.

Leaves
Alternate leaves. 
Lower leaves are lance-shaped, 10 to 12” long, 0.5 inch wide.
Upper leaves are smaller, linear.

Inflorescence
Terminal spike, 30 cm tall
Flower heads are 6 to 15” long. 
Flower heads are fairly dense.
Individual flower heads are not borne on stalks.                                                               
Lowest flower heads have small leaf-like bracts. 

Flowers
Typically 3 to 18 flowers per flower head.
All flowers are disk flowers. 
Tube-shaped petals.
Pink, rose, or purple flowers.
Internal portion of flower is smooth.
Flowers are ½” wide.
Blooms from August to September.

Fruit
Dry seed, on fluff

Stems
80+ cm tall
Stem is smooth and leafy
Single or multiple stems come up from base

Habitat
Requires full sun.
Grows in meadows, prairies.  Also cultivated.

Did you know...

Blazing star is unusual in flowering from the top to the bottom of the spike. It is a beautiful American wildflower which was brought to Europe, popularized as a cut flower and perennial, and then returned to popularity in the USA.

Blazing Star is suitable for borders, butterfly gardens and cottage or prairie gardens. Excellent plant for cut flowers. Plant produces fluffy looking disk flowers. Tall cultivars require staking

Sources:
http://www.botany.wisc.edu/garden/db/speciesdetail.asp?genus=Liatris&species=spicata|
http://www.botany.wisc.edu/garden/db/plantimages/Liatris_spicata_L1.JPG
http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=LIASPI
http://www.missouriplants.com/Pinkalt/Liatris_spicata_page.html
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/perennials/Liatrsp.htm
http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/prairie/htmls/plants/L-spicata.html