Tall Blazing Star

Liatris aspera

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Liatris
Species:
Liatris aspera

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Geophyte
Height:
6-8 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
aug, sep
Bloom Colors:
Pink, Purple

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Ontario

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), Southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), Southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
thrives in open prairies and savannas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Mix the seeds with an equal amount of either perlite or vermiculite and place in a cool dry place for 1-3 months for cold stratification.

Establishment: Seeds are collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. The plant is found in dry, sandy sites in full sun and takes several years to go from seed to bloom. There is a variation in pre-treatment protocol, with one suggesting cold stratification only if seeds do not grow, while the other recommends it for all seeds for 105 days.

Source: npn.rngr.net