Rocky Mountain Blazing Star
Liatris ligulistylus
Rocky Mountain Blazing Star has a reputation among monarch enthusiasts as one of the single best monarch plants you can grow. The individual flower heads are larger than most Liatris species, making the rich rose-purple spikes especially showy, and they time their bloom in August to coincide precisely with the peak of the monarch fall migration. A single clump in bloom will draw monarchs from a remarkable distance. Though native to the plains rather than the Atlantic region, it adapts well to eastern gardens given well-drained soil and full sun. The grassy foliage is attractive through the season and the plant develops into a substantial clump over years. For gardeners serious about monarch habitat, this is the Liatris species to prioritize.
We grow a range of sizes and prices. Add the plant to your list, then pick your size when you visit.
Final price confirmed at pickup, depends on size and season.
- Thu, Jul 238 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Jul 248 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Jul 258 AM – 2 PM
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown rocky mountain blazing star propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry
- Mature size
- 2'–3'
- Bloom
- Late summer blooms (August–September) at peak monarch migration; seed heads through fall and winter
- USDA zones
- 3–7
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside rocky mountain blazing star.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle 9–12 species that work together. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Butterfly Package
Host and nectar plants chosen to feed monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries spring through fall.
Hummingbird Package
Tubular-flowered natives that pull ruby-throats through your yard April through October.
S.O.S. Package
Save Our Songbirds, berry- and seed-bearing natives that feed nesting and migrating birds.