Plant · GBIF taxon 3104314
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicataAlso known as Prairie Feather, Gayfeather, Button Snakewort, Marsh Blazing Star
Dense blazing star sends up tall, feathery spikes of vibrant magenta-purple flower heads that famously bloom from the top down rather than the bottom up. Native to moist prairies and meadows across eastern North America, this perennial grows from corms that store energy through the winter. Its nectar-rich floral wands draw an array of butterflies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds throughout late summer.
FloweringPollinator MagnetPerennial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Rabbits
- White-tailed Deer
- Voles
ThreatsHabitat loss, prairie conversion, and competition from invasive weeds
HabitatsMoist prairies, wet meadows, bogs, and open roadside ditches
Life spanPerennial (5–10+ years)
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusLiatris
- SpeciesLiatris spicata
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.
Responsible observation
- Timing: Look for blooming spikes from July through September in sunny prairie patches.
- Observation: Watch for the top-down flowering sequence on individual spikes over several weeks.
- Garden Care: Plant in full sun with moist, well-draining soil to prevent corm rot.
Pollinator Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Joshua Mayer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
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