Dense blazingstar is a perennial bulb in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that is native to the Southeast United States. It has a clumping, erect habit and grows 3 to 4 feet high and 10 to 18 inches wide. It requires full sun, moist soil with good drainage, and a neutral to acidic pH. It tolerates occasionally wet or dry soil as well as heat, humidity and poor soil. Propagate it by division or seed. The showy flower spikes may be pink, purple or white, and appear in summer. It differs from the typical species ( Liatris spicata var. spicata ) by having flowers that are more loosely spaced across the stem but still bloom from the top down. The flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds and are also attractive when cut and dried. Goldfinches eat the seeds. It also serves as a host plant for the larvae of both the Liatris flower moth ( Schinia sanguinea ) and the Liatris borer moth (Carmenta anthracipennis). Dense blazing-star is at home in many landscape locations including meadows, naturalized areas, recreational play areas and beside patios or ponds. It is suitable for small spaces. Use it in a border or mass planting in a cottage, pollinator, butterfly, rain, rock or native garden. Insects, Disease and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. More information on Liatris spicata .
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The basal clump of alternate, narrow deep green leaves with a strong central vein are up to 12 inches long and 1/3 inch wide. Leaves grow smaller as they ascend the flower stalk. They are glabrous to sparsely hairy. Margins are entire.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Differing from the main species, the flowers are more loosely spaced across the stem, still blooming from the top down. There are only 5-6 disk florets per flower and the bracts are purple instead of green. Highly variable in flower density and number.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Cypselae (a type of achene) with stiff light brown bristles in fall.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Green to purplish stem is round and smooth to slightly pubescent.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern U.S.A.
Wildlife value
Its flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Larval forms of Schinia sanguinea (Liatris Flower Moth) feed on the flowers and seeds, and the larval form of Carmenta anthracipennis (Liatris Borer Moth) eat the stems. Goldfinches eat the seeds with relish.