Summary ²

Liatris aspera also known as the lacerate, rough, tall or prairie blazing star is a wildflower that is found in the mid to eastern United States in habitats that range from mesic to dry prairie and dry savanna.

Description ³

Family:
Asteraceae (Aster)

Height:
1 to 4 feet

Leaves:
Grass-like leaves are narrow and lance-shaped (around 3” long), with a prominent midvein and pointed tip. Leaves are alternately attached and densely crowded along the stem. Basal leaves (up to 12” long) are generally wider than stem leaves, typically withering away by the time the plant flowers.

Flower:
Button-like, magenta flowerheads (up to 1” across) grow in a loose raceme at the top of the plant, Stalkless, or occasionally very short-stalked, flowerheads bloom from the top down. Each flowerhead consists of 25-40 tiny, star-shaped flowers with stringy, protruding styles.

Bloom time:
July-September

Nicknames:
Tall Blazing Star, Gayfeather, Tall Gayfeather

Habitat:
Rough Blazing Star prefers full sun, dry to well-drained conditions, and slightly acidic, nutrient poor, sandy soils; however, it also tolerates more fertile soils, as well as those that contain clay, loam, or rock. It is commonly found in dry prairies, open woodlands, savannas, glades, and along roadsides and railroads.

Wildlife Benefits:
Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and many species of bees and butterflies, including Monarchs, Painted Ladies, and Black Swallowtails. Foliage is a food source for rabbits, deer, groundhogs, and many small rodents.

Can I plant this in my garden?
Given drier soils and adequate sunlight, this species is fairly easy to grow, especially in sandy, nutrient-poor soils. It may flop over if planted in nutrient-rich soils, and is susceptible to damage by herbivory, but it is also very drought tolerant.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/rough-blazing-star
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/rgh_blazingstarx.htm
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/liatris-ligulistylis/

Range ³

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
2. Adapted by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liatris_aspera
3. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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