Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
Prairie blazing star is a magnet for pollinators—especially monarch butterflies, which flock to its nectar-rich blooms during their late-summer migration. Its dense flower spikes offer a vital energy source when other prairie plants begin to fade, making it a keystone species in restoration landscapes and pollinator pathways.
This native perennial grows two to five feet tall, anchored by a single, rigid, hairy stem lined with narrow, grass-like leaves. The leaves can reach up to 12 inches near the base and taper smaller toward the top, giving the plant a sleek, vertical profile.
In midsummer, it sends up a dramatic spike of rounded, purple flower heads—each packed with small florets that bloom from top to bottom. These spikes may reach up to 18 inches long, drawing in bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects with their vivid color and abundant nectar.
Prairie blazing star thrives in upland prairies, preferring full sun and well-drained soils. It’s drought-tolerant and resilient, offering both beauty and ecological function in native plantings, pollinator gardens, and prairie restorations.
Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) and dense blazing star (Liatris spicata) are strikingly similar in form—both rising in dense, purple spires that bloom from top to bottom and draw in a flurry of pollinators. Yet their roots tell different stories: pycnostachya anchors itself in dry, sunlit prairies, while spicata leans toward the damp edges of meadows and marshes.
(SF)