Plant · GBIF taxon 3104285
Rocky Mountain blazing star
Liatris ligulistylisAlso known as Meadow Blazing Star, Northern Plains Blazing Star, Monarch Magnet
Rocky Mountain blazing star stands tall across central prairies, unfurling dense tufts of vibrant magenta-purple flower heads from top to bottom along single unbranched stems. Renowned as the ultimate magnet for migrating monarch butterflies, its nectar fuels long southbound journeys each late summer. Below ground, corm-like roots sustain these resilient perennials through deep winter frosts and periodic prairie fires.
FloweringPollinator AttractorPrairie Plant
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Cottontail Rabbit
- Voles
ThreatsHabitat loss from agriculture, herbicide spray, and aggressive weeds
HabitatsTallgrass prairies, damp meadows, open woodlands, road verges
Life spanPerennial (10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsteraceae
- SpeciesLiatris ligulistylis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognize by tall stems carrying button-like purple flower heads on distinct short stalks, opening top-down.
- Support conservation
- Avoid digging up wild plants or collecting seeds from remnant prairie nature preserves.
Responsible observation
- Timing: Look for vibrant purple blossoms from late July through September.
- Butterfly Spotting: Watch closely for clusters of monarchs feeding on nectar-rich flower heads.
- Cultivation: Plant in full sun with moist, well-draining soil to attract native pollinators.
Pollinator Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Dale Knox · cc0
Close Relative (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
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