prairie blazing star
ExplorePlants
prairie blazing star
Liatris pycnostachya
The prairie blazing star is a beautiful flower that grows tall and has bright purple spikes. It loves sunny places and attracts butterflies and bees, making it a happy spot in the prairie!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The prairie blazing star is a tall, upright perennial with dense spikes of fuzzy, bright purple-pink flowers. Its distinctive blooms appear from the top down, creating a vibrant column that stands out in grasslands.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusLiatris
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Indigenous peoples once chewed its root to help with tummy aches!
Its tall flower spikes bloom upside-down, starting at the very top!
Many types of butterflies and bees race to sip its sweet nectar!
Underground, it grows a special round root that stores water like a living canteen!
Special abilities
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
This plant can attract a wide variety of butterflies and bees with its vibrant flowers and abundant nectar.
Ability
Fire Fighter
Prairie blazing star can resprout from its robust root system after a prairie fire, helping it thrive in its natural habitat.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 90-180 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late summer to fall
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
nectar fuels its epic migration
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects pollen and nectar
pollinates
Eastern tiger swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
visits flowers for sweet nectar
eats
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus
sometimes digs up and eats corms
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is prairie blazing star?
90-180 cm
How wide does prairie blazing star spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on prairie blazing star?
1-2 cm
When does prairie blazing star bloom?
Late summer to fall
Is prairie blazing star edible?
Yes
Is prairie blazing star toxic?
None
What is prairie blazing star's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is prairie blazing star pollinated?
Insect
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