Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Perennial Blazing Star The blazing star is a prairie plant will attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the digital garden editor at Better Homes & Gardens. Before moving to Des Moines, Iowa, for this position in 2019, she spent 14 years serving as an editor for The American Gardener magazine, published by the American Horticultural Society in Virginia. She holds a B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University and an M.P.S. in plant pathology from Cornell. Viveka loves getting people excited about the botanical world and feels happiest with dirt under her nails. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on July 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Blazing Star Color Combinations Thanks to their tall wands of purplish pink blooms, blazing stars make eye-catching additions to sunny gardens. Their fairly unassuming foliage of fine green leaves looks almost grass-like and blends into the landscape well. Once blooming begins, the tall, colorful spires sway in the breeze and are constantly abuzz with pollinators. At peak bloom, blazing stars are a favorite for butterflies. Several different species and varieties are available, and some have especially long-lasting blooms. Blazing Star Care Must-Knows Blazing stars are true prairie plants. They thrive in poor soil conditions as long as there's good drainage. These plants grow by way of small corms, a modified storage root that looks like a bulb, which will rot in soggy soil. One of the main causes of death in blazing stars is too much winter wetness, so make sure they never sit in water in cold weather. Avoid overly rich, fertile soils, as they can encourage lush, soft growth prone to flopping. 7 of the Most Common Perennial Garden Mistakes to Avoid Like many other prairie plants, blazing stars need full sun. They also can take heat and drought, sailing through some of the toughest summers without missing a beat. Planting blazing stars in full sun will ensure that the plants put on a good show of flowers, and will keep them as compact as possible. Taller species will need neighbors to lean on to prevent flopping. New Innovations in Blazing Stars Many species of blazing star have seen an increase in popularity over the years because of the pollinator movement, which encourages gardeners to plant natives and other nectar sources for essential beneficial insects like bees. A few varieties offer dwarf habits for smaller spaces and reduce flopping. More Varieties of Blazing Star Blazing Star Overview Description This perennial gets its name from its flowers. They appear on tall stalks, blooming from the top down rather than from the bottom up, similar to sparklers. Blazing star is a favorite nectar plant for butterflies like monarchs as well as many other pollinators. Once the blooms are done, the seeds make a nutritious snack for finches. Unfortunately, blazing star is also a favorite meal for rabbits and deer, so plan accordingly. Genus Name Liatris Common Name Blazing Star Plant Type Perennial Light Sun Height 1 to 3 feet Width 1 to 2 feet Flower Color Pink, Purple, White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Division, Seed Problem Solvers Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant 'Floristan White' blazing star Marty Baldwin Liatris spicata 'Floristan White' may reach 3 feet tall. Its leafy stems carry long spikes of creamy white flower heads at their tips. Zones 4-9 'Kobold' blazing star Liatris spicata 'Kobold' is one of the best varieties for cutting. Its robust spikes of bright purple flowers appear in early summer. It grows about 2 feet tall. Zones 4-9 Blazing Star Companion Plants Shasta Daisy Peter Krumhardt Easy, always fresh, and always eye-catching, Shasta daisy is a longtime favorite. All cultivars produce white daisy flowers in various degrees of doubleness and size. The sturdy stems and long vase life make the flowers unbeatable for cutting. Shasta daisy thrives in well-drained, not overly rich soil. Taller varieties may need staking. Helenium Peter Krumhardt Long-blooming helenium lights up the late-season garden with showy daisy flowers in brilliant yellows, browns, and mahogany, centered with prominent yellow or brown discs. Many of the best cultivars are hybrids. All are excellent for cutting. Deadhead to extend bloom time, and divide the clumps every couple of years to ensure vigor. Artemisia Grow artemisias for the magnificent silver foliage that complements nearly all other perennials and ties together diverse colors within the garden. They're nothing short of stunning next to white or blue flowers. They thrive in hot, dry, sunny conditions, such as a south-facing slope. A number spread rapidly to the point of being aggressive, so consider limiting to varieties that are well-behaved. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit