Northern Blazing Star
Liatris scariosa
Fewer but bolder purple-pink buttons on upright late-summer spikes. Weeks of monarch and bee traffic, then goldfinches on the winter stalks.
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
Large, spaced flower heads on tall spikes that monarchs and swallowtails pile onto in late summer.
Northern blazing star is distinguished from its relatives by its larger, more scattered flower heads on upright spikes: fewer but bolder, each button of purple-pink larger and showier than the tighter species. The spikes open from the top down in late summer, drawing monarchs, swallowtails, and native bees in a sustained feeding frenzy that can last weeks. The dried stalks stand through winter, casting thin shadows and holding goldfinches. It naturalizes well in dry open areas, meadows, and rocky clearings. More tolerant of dappled shade and drier, sandier soils than some other Liatris species. Plant it where you want a late-summer vertical accent that earns its space with serious wildlife value.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown northern 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
- 2–4 ft · 12–18 in wide
- Bloom time
- August–September
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America from New England and southern Ontario south to Georgia and Mississippi, primarily in dry open woods and rocky clearings
Care notes for northern blazing star.
Full sun in dry to average, well-drained soil. Tolerates sandy, rocky, and lean conditions. Excellent in gravel mulched areas. Cut back in spring or leave stalks for bird habitat. Drought tolerant once established; overwatering in rich soil leads to floppy plants.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside northern 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’.