| Monday Melange: Spotted Blazing Star |
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| Written by Heleigh Bostwick Monday, 26 July 2010 | |||
 Spotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) is an herbaceous perennial native to the short grass prairies of the mid-western US, including the Great Plains and foothills of Colorado and New Mexico. Ranging from Montana south to Texas and across to Ohio, spotted blazing star is a member of the aster family (Asteraceae) family and is hardy between USDA zones 3 and 8. Also known as dotted gayfeather, spotted blazing star grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet high and has beautiful deep purple flowers that bloom between June and September that attract butterflies. Spotted blazing star has either a single stem, or more commonly several stems. Spotted blazing star has a long taproot and is drought tolerant, yet another plant that is well suited to xeriscape gardens. No serious pest or disease problems are associated with spotted blazing star, which prefers well-drained soils and full sunlight, but tolerates some light shade. It is an easy to grow native flower that adds vertical interest in the perennial border or in the natural landscape, for example in a meadow. Propagate spotted blazing star by seed (wait two years for flowers to appear), division, or cuttings. Spotted blazing star is listed as probably extirpated in Michigan and L. punctata var. nebraskana is listed as endangered in Nebraska. |
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