Spotlight on Liatris (Blazing Stars)

With vibrant purple flower spikes that bloom from the top down, Liatris is one of our most charismatic native plants. Commonly known as blazing stars or gayfeathers, there are dozens of Liatris native to Wisconsin and a handful available in nurseries. Most are about 3 to 5 feet tall. How do you choose the right one for your garden? 

Consider your sunlight

All Liatris prefer full sun, but tolerate partial sun (4-6 hours of direct sun). Tip: In partial sun, be prepared to stake the taller species to keep them from flopping over. If you have a full shade garden, consider Blephilia hirsuta (hairy wood mint) or Penstemon hirsutus (hairy beardtongue) for a flash of purple instead. 

Consider your soil moisture

If you have medium, well-drained soil you're in luck! Most Liatris will do well. But they are a diverse group: some can handle occasional flooding (L. pycnostachya, L. spicata) and some like it dry (L. aspera, L. cylindracea). 

Here are my picks for the best Liatris for different conditions.

Best for clay: Liatris pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)

L. pycnostachya survived in my clay-filled West Madison yard for years and bloomed beautifully. 

Best for rain gardens: Liatris spicata (marsh blazing star)

As the common name implies, L. spicata is found in wet meadows and marsh edges and it tolerates periodic flooding. The bloom looks very similar to L. pycnostachya.

Best for dry gardens: Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Naturally occurring in dry fields, L. aspera likes dry to medium soil and is a good choice for sandy or rocky soil.

Best for monarch butterflies: Liatris ligulistylis (meadow blazing star)

They don't call this the ULTIMATE MONARCH MAGNET for nothing! Monarchs really flock to L. ligulistylis, perhaps because it blooms when they are preparing for fall migration.

For some lovely inspiration, check out this post on the blog Meristem by Dr. Jared Barnes: The Allure of the Lurie Garden. Liatris makes an appearance in many of the photos!