Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
The tall blazing star: four to five feet of dense rose-purple spikes in late summer, with monarchs migrating through at peak bloom.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
The tallest, most dramatic Liatris for prairie-style meadows and back borders. five feet of purple flower spikes at monarch migration time.
Prairie Blazing Star is the tall one, reaching four to five feet in good soil, with densely packed rose-purple flower spikes that are fully as spectacular as any ornamental grass in the late-summer border. Its prairie origins mean it handles heat and drought better than Liatris spicata, and it brings that authentic tallgrass prairie presence that makes a meadow planting feel real rather than curated. Monarchs migrate through at peak bloom time in August. Plant it at the back of a sunny border or in the center of a meadow planting where its height becomes an asset. It sways naturally in the wind, and the grassy foliage through most of the season adds a meadow texture. The dried flower stalks and seed heads provide visual interest and goldfinch food through fall. One of the most impressive native perennials we offer in terms of sheer garden presence.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown prairie 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
- 3–5 ft · 12–18 in wide
- Bloom time
- July–August
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Central North America. tallgrass prairies from Indiana and Wisconsin west to Nebraska south to Arkansas and Louisiana
Care notes for prairie blazing star.
Plant in full sun in dry to average, well-drained soil. Prairie Blazing Star does not tolerate wet, heavy clay. Tall stems may need staking in rich, moist soils or exposed sites. Leave seed heads for goldfinches and songbirds through fall and winter. Cut back in early spring. Divide corms every four to five years to maintain vigor. Drought tolerant once established.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside prairie blazing star.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.