Meadow Blazing Star is a clump-forming perennial native to the central and mid-western areas of North America and is often seen in rocky woods or slopes, prairies or gravel areas along streams. The blooms are pinkish-purple disc flowers with a fluffy and thistle-like appearance. The basal leaves become alternate up the stem which can grow 2-3 feet in height. Propagation is best done by dividing the corms. Meadow Blazing Star is easily grown in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun and prefers dry, sandy or rocky, alkaline soils. You may need to stake the plant if grown in richer garden soils. This plant will not tolerate wet soils in the winter but tolerates summer heat and humidity. Use this plant in the middle or back border for a vertical accent, planted in groups or in rock gardens. More information on Liatris .
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
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The up to 6 inches long leaves are basilar and become mostly alternate up the stem. The midribs are whitish and there are sparse to dense whitish hairs on the leaves and stem. They vary from linear and sessile nearer the top of the plant, to oblanceolate with petioles nearer the bottom.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are arranged in a loose raceme on the upper part of the stem, with rounded pinkish-purple flower heads with many small five-lobed, tubular disc flowers surrounded by spoon-shaped bracts. Long thread-like styles protrude from the center. The flower has a fluffy appearance. Flowers in late summer into fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits (cypselae) are 1/4 inch or less long, each with a ring of barbed hairs at the top.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Tall green stems with whitish hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
W. Central & Central Canada to W. Central U.S.A
Distribution
CO , CT , IA , IL , MN , MT , ND , NM , SD , WI , WY Canada: AB , MB , SK
Wildlife value
Attracts birds to the seeds and butterflies and hummingbirds to the flowers