description Dense Blazing Star Overview
Dense blazing star, Liatris spicata, is a herbaceous perennial in the aster family native to moist prairies, meadows, and similar open habitats in eastern North America. In summer it produces upright spikes densely packed with purple to rose-colored flower heads, which unusually begin opening near the top and progress downward. The nectar-rich flowers are visited by butterflies, including monarchs, as well as native bees and other pollinating insects.
insights Ranking position
Dense Blazing Star ranks #13 of 341 in the Wildflower ranking, behind Virginia Bluebells, ahead of Texas Bluebonnet.
help Dense Blazing Star FAQ
Why does dense blazing star bloom from the top downward?
Unlike many flower spikes, Liatris spicata opens its upper flower heads first and then progresses downward. This distinctive sequence can keep different parts of the same spike in bud, bloom, and seed at once.
Does Liatris spicata attract monarch butterflies?
Its densely packed flower heads provide nectar for monarchs and many other butterflies, bees, and pollinating insects. It is a nectar plant, however, not a host plant for monarch caterpillars like species of milkweed.
What conditions does dense blazing star need in a garden?
Liatris spicata performs best in full sun and moist but reasonably well-drained soil. Its natural habitats include wet meadows, sedge meadows, and moist prairie-like openings in eastern North America.
How is dense blazing star different from prairie blazing star?
Dense blazing star is Liatris spicata, while prairie blazing star is usually Liatris pycnostachya. L. spicata is strongly associated with moister ground, whereas L. pycnostachya is characteristic of prairie habitats and often forms taller, less compact-looking spikes.
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