scaly blazing star
ExplorePlants
scaly blazing star
Liatris squarrosa
The scaly blazing star is a beautiful flower that grows tall and has bright purple spikes. It attracts butterflies and bees, making gardens lively and colorful!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The scaly blazing star has sturdy, upright stems topped with distinctive purple-pink flower heads. Its unique feature is the recurved, scale-like bracts beneath each flower head, giving it a spiky, star-like appearance. Narrow, green leaves grow densely along the stem.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusLiatris
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Each 'flower' you see is actually a cluster of many tiny purple individual florets!
Its scientific name 'Liatris squarrosa' means 'scaly' because of its unique flower bracts!
Some people call it 'scaly gayfeather' because its blooms look like colorful, feathery plumes!
The plant's underground corm, similar to a bulb, can help it live for many years!
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Buster
Scaly blazing star has a deep, tuberous root that stores water and nutrients, helping it survive long dry periods.
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
This plant has bright purple flowers packed with nectar, attracting a wide variety of busy insects for pollination.
Ability
Tough Soil Thrive
Scaly blazing star can grow in poor, sandy, or clay soils where many other plants struggle, thanks to its resilience.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-90 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
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.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
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.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is scaly blazing star?
30-90 cm
How wide does scaly blazing star spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on scaly blazing star?
1-2 cm
When does scaly blazing star bloom?
Summer to fall
Is scaly blazing star edible?
No
Is scaly blazing star toxic?
None
What is scaly blazing star's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is scaly blazing star pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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