Rough Blazing Star
Covered with lavender blooms in late summer, Rough Blazing Star is shorter than other Liatris species and perfect for medium or dry well-drained soils. Butterflies are likely visitors, along with hummingbirds and other pollinators …
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
|---|---|
| Soil Moisture | Dry, Medium |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
| Height | 2' - 3' |
| Bloom Color | Lavender, Pink, Purple |
| Bloom Time | Aug, Sep |
| Spacing | 6" - 1' |
| Hardiness Zones | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Root Type | Corm |
| Benefits | Birds, Butterflies, Pollinators, Hummingbirds, Deer Resistant |
| Seeds per Oz | 13500 |
| Propagation Treatment | Moist Stratification |
| Days to Moist Stratify | 30 days |
| Direct Sowing Time | Fall |
Covered with lavender blooms in late summer, Rough Blazing Star is shorter than other Liatris species and perfect for medium or dry well-drained soils. Butterflies are likely visitors, along with hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Ideal for dry perennial borders, rock gardens or low-growing dry meadows, it combines beautifully with Butterflyweed, Dotted Mint, Showy Goldenrod, Sky Blue Aster and Little Bluestem. This drought tolerant Liatris likes well-drained dry to medium soils, or sandy and rocky situations. Avoid planting it in moist areas, or locations where the soil remains consistently wet during winter.
The species name "aspera" is Latin for "rough," which refers to the short stiff hairs on the central stem and the narrow basal leaves, which are very rough. Another distinguishing feature of Rough Blazing Star is the slightly zigzag stem. Other common names include Button Snakeroot and Rough Gayfeather.
Butterflies and bees seeking nectar are frequent visitors of Rough Blazingstar, and hummingbirds are occassional visitors, too. Plants in the Liatris genus are known to host numerous small moths, such as the Glorious Flower moth (Schinia gloriosa), Three lined Flower moth (Schinia trifascia), Wavy-Lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata), and the Blazing Star Borer moth (Carmenta anthracipennis).
