Rocky Mountain Blazing Star

(Liatris ligulistylis)

Rocky Mountain Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Liatris ligulistylis, commonly known as Rocky Mountain Blazing Star, is a deciduous perennial herb native to moist meadows, prairie streambanks, and open woodlands in the Central and Northern USA, as well as parts of Canada. It typically grows to a height of up to 100 cm (39 inches), with a clumping form that features a striking vertical accent in gardens. The leaves are mostly basal with a few alternately arranged along the stem, varying from linear and sessile at the top to oblanceolate with petioles at the bottom. The foliage is characterized by whitish midribs and is sparsely to densely covered with short white hairs.

Rocky Mountain Blazing Star is celebrated for its showy flower spikes that bloom from late summer to early fall. The rounded pinkish-purple flower heads, each containing 30-100 five-lobed, tubular flowers, are arranged in a loose raceme on the upper part of the stem. The flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, especially monarch butterflies, and serve as a host for the bleeding flower moth. In cultivation, this plant is valued for its ease of maintenance, drought tolerance, and ability to thrive in full sun with low to medium water requirements on well-drained soils. It is commonly used in native plant gardens, perennial borders, and as a fresh or dried cut flower due to its long vase life.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 1-3 feet
  • Width: 0.5-2 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Purple, Pink
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Moist meadows, prairie streambanks, and open woodlands

Other Names

Common Names: Northern Plains Gayfeather, Rocky Mountain Blazing-Star, Button Snakeroot, Meadow Blazing-Star, Northern Meadow Blazing-Star, Northern Plains Blazing-Star, Strap-Style Gayfeather, Liatris À Style Ligulé, Rocky Mountain Gayfeather

Scientific Names: , Liatris ligulistylis, Lacinaria ligulistylis, Liatris ligulistylis f. ligulistylis, Liatris rosendahlii, Liatris haywardii, Liatris herrickii, Liatris ligulistylis f. leucantha, Lacinaria formosa, Lacinaria herrickii,

GBIF Accepted Name: Liatris ligulistylis (Nelson) K.Schum.