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Appalachian Blazing Star

Liatris microcephala (ly-AY-tris my-kro-SEF-uh-luh)

Family: Asteraceae Native Herbaceous

Dwarf blazing star is a small upright perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy family) that is native to the southern Appalachian Mountains. This plant produces multiple stems of inflorescences composed of fluffy disc flowers on terminal spikes. The leaves are narrow and grass-like. This plant prefers well-drained soil and tolerates high heat and humidity. It is resistant to damage by deer and tolerates drought and poor rocky soils. The best flowering occurs in full sun in late summer into fall. In wet winter areas, be sure to plant in well-drained soils to prevent rotting of the corms. Use this plant in butterfly and cutting gardens, native gardens, and naturalized areas. More information on Liatris .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 46 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Buddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip' Liatris spicata Viola pedata

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Native Plant; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
< 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The basal leaves are narrow and grass-like and become small as they go up the stem.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The inflorescence is made up of rose-purple fluffy disc flowers in small groups on terminal spikes. Blooms late summer into fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Green to brownish stem
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South Eastern U.S.A
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies and bees. Deer resistant
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Native Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#purple #native garden #NC native #cutting garden #showy flowers #rock garden #drought tolerant #nectar plant late summer #deer resistant #cottage garden #butterfly friendly #bee friendly #corm #pollinator plant #NC Native Pollinator Plant #compact #poor soil tolerant #moth friendly
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Drought; Dry Soil
Propagation
Division

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.