Blazing Star

Liatris spicata

Nature Hills Nursery

Liatris Spicata Blooms from Bottom to Top, Creating Weeks of Continuous Purple Spikes
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 3-9
Grows 2-4 ft Tall, 1-2 ft Wide
Native, Pollinator-Friendly - Attracts Bees and Butterflies
Excellent Mass Planting in Butterfly Gardens

$34⁸⁹

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Aim for a full sun location, which means six or more hours of direct sun daily. While Liatris tolerates partial shade, the tradeoff is a noticeable reduction in bloom production and color intensity, and the stems may stretch and become less sturdy.
Soil: The key here is drainage; think of its native prairie home. Liatris thrives in lean, well-drained soil, tolerating even poor or sandy conditions. If you have heavy clay, incorporate plenty of coarse grit and compost to improve aeration and ensure water doesn't pool around the corm, which can lead to rot.

Watering Requirements

During its first establishment season, give your Liatris a deep, consistent watering once a week until the roots are well-developed. Once mature, this perennial is impressively drought-tolerant, meaning supplemental water is rarely needed outside of prolonged dry spells. If watering is severely inconsistent, the plant will show stress primarily through smaller flower spikes and eventual corm shrinkage, but it will generally survive.

Pruning Tips

Liatris blooms reliably on the new wood it produces each season, so there is no concern about cutting off next year's flower buds. The best technique is simple deadheading: snip off spent flower spikes right after they fade to prevent aggressive self-seeding throughout your garden. You can leave the rest of the foliage standing through winter for visual interest and to feed birds, then cut everything back to ground level in late winter before new growth emerges.

Fertilizer Needs

This prairie native performs best when its soil is kept lean, meaning it usually requires little to no supplemental fertilizer. If you suspect your soil is exceptionally poor, you can apply a single dose of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring. Do not apply high-nitrogen fertilizer or fertilize past midsummer. The reason for this is that excess nitrogen encourages soft, weak growth that will cause the flower stalks to flop over and makes the plant less resilient going into the dormant season.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Native, Low Maintenance, Flowering, Deer-resistant, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts pollinators
Hardiness Zone	3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	2-4 ft
Width	1-2 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Growth Rate	Fast
Blooms In	Summer, Fall
Flower Color	Purple
Native	Yes
Botanical Name	Liatris spicata
Species	spicata
Class	Lamiales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

So unusual and unique! The bold and upright, purple wands of Liatris Spicata (Liatris spicata) will be smothered in pollinators! Also known as Gayfeather and Blazing Star, the whimsical shape and gorgeous color last all summer into the fall, and the fine-textured leaves add a fringy green edging to the garden when not in bloom!

Long-lasting spikes of violet-purple wave in the wind and gleam in the sun without fading. Unique shape and form will certainly draw attention! The ample nectar and pollen feed bees, butterflies, the occasional Hummingbird, and droves of beneficial insects to the native resources they recognize! Birds love the seeds in fall so don't deadhead too quickly!

Liatris Spicata is a reliable clump-forming perennial with fine, long, thin blades of green leaves along sturdy flower spikes that look incredible in any location of your landscaping! It won't fail to stand up and stand out! The bulb-like roots slowly colonize small areas and grow fast throughout USDA planting zones 3 to 9.

Planting and Application:

Include these graceful and cheery blooms throughout your sun landscape beds and borders and even in container gardens! The vertical purple wands will enliven your Cut Flower garden, and Pollinator gardens, add character and structure to your Rock Gardens and mixed Perennial Gardens, and look great as vertical lines anywhere you plant them!

For a quirky walkway, alternate different Allium, Sea Thrift, Scabiosa, and Bee Balm with Liatris along your garden path or sidewalk, then add a backdrop of red or blue mophead Hydrangea! Or mix them with other sun garden blooms in a Xeric planting along the sun-drenched strip of land with a backdrop of waving Ornamental grass!

Have fun playing with other wand-like blooms and mix Liatris with Pennestemon, Delphinum, Red Hot Pokers, Veronica, Astilbe, Hollyhock, and Salvias with a backdrop of Butterfly bushes and Lilacs for a charming Cottage garden or whimsical Children's garden!

Pot up as the vertical thriller element in a mixed planter with spilling grasses and fluffy fillers on your sunny porch or patio! Even balcony gardeners can enjoy these fast-growing, fun perennial bulbs anywhere! No yard required! Snip a few Liatris Spicata for great architectural lines in floral arrangements and bouquets for a long-lasting pop of color!

Unique Purple Floral Wands!
Long-Lasting Native Blooms Call Pollinators
Great Cut Flowers & Pollinator Friendly
Vertical Structural & Heat/Cold-Hardy
Mid-to-Front-of-the-Border, Sun Garden Interest & Visual Texture

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Plant this magnificent native herbaceous perennial in the full sun, in an area with well-drained soil, so that it can grow tall, strong, and proud! New installations need regular water their first year, but once established, these plants only need supplemental moisture during extended drought. All plants appreciate a 3-4 inch layer of mulch for moisture stability and insulation. Deadhead to encourage occasional rebloom and clean the mounds in the late fall to prepare them for the winter (after the birds have had their fill anyway).

Full Sun Perennial
Well-Drained Organic Soils
Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
Deadhead After Flowers Fade/Prune Late Fall
Deer-Resistant, Hardy & Adaptable!

The curious magic wands of the Liatris Spicata will be the perfect addition to your garden! Order today before it's too late from the expert growers at Nature Hills Nursery!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I water Blazing Star and is it drought tolerant?

Blazing Star is quite drought tolerant once established and thrives in xeric (dry) plantings. Water regularly the first year to help roots establish, then reduce to occasional deep watering during extended dry spells. In zones 3-9, mature plants typically need minimal supplemental watering except during severe drought.

Is Blazing Star deer resistant?

Blazing Star is generally deer resistant due to its native prairie origins and somewhat coarse texture. While no plant is 100% deer-proof, Liatris spicata is rarely browsed in zones 3-9. For best results, plant in full sun locations where deer are less likely to linger, available at naturehills.com.

Will Blazing Star survive winter in my area without protection?

Blazing Star is hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and doesn't need winter protection in those areas. The bulb-like roots are naturally cold-tolerant and will reliably return each spring. Check your local hardiness zone to confirm compatibility.

How do I care for Blazing Star during its first year after planting?

Blazing Star establishes quickly in zones 3-9 with minimal first-year care. Water regularly during dry spells and ensure full sun exposure for best flowering. Avoid deadheading in fall so birds can enjoy the seeds through winter.

Should I deadhead the flowers or let them go to seed?

Let the seed heads develop in fall since birds love the seeds. You can deadhead some spikes for continued blooming while leaving others for wildlife. This approach gives you extended flowers plus valuable food sources for birds through winter.