Blazing-star, Its Secrets Revealed (Ho-Hum)

There’s an awful lot of yellow out there, blooming from late summer until the glitter of the first frost. Asters, Ironweed and Boneset all find elbow room among the goldenrods, sunflowers and coneflowers, but all they seem to do is bring out the yellow.

Somehow it’s different with Blazing-star (Liatris spicata).

Known also as Marsh Blazing-star, Dense Blazing-star and, to gardeners, Gayfeather, L. spicata is a slender, spike-like plant that grows up to 5’ tall. The spikes, covered with flower heads of gorgeous rose-purple blossoms, stand out like basketball players among munchkins, relegating the goldenrods and sunflowers to the background.

Yet another member of the Aster family (Asteraceae), there are about 40 species of Liatris, all of which grow in Eastern and Central North America. Native perennials all, they occur mainly in prairies and open woodlands, typically on dry, sandy ground though L. spicata prefers damper sites. They are unusual in that they blossom from the top of the spike downward.

Many species of Liatris have found their way into gardens, where they are grown as ornamentals, or to attract butterflies. Their long-lasting blossoms make excellent cut flowers, dried or fresh, and they are drought tolerant. And in the garden, just as in the prairie, clusters of these feathery pink wands give the yellow something to frame.

Sometimes confused with thistle, Liatris is neither spiny nor prickly. Its smooth, stiff stem is covered with flower heads and lance-shaped alternate leaves. Identifying individual species, on the other hand, is a chore. That they often hybridize doesn‘t make it any easier.

While some species, such as L. spicata, grow up to 5’ tall, others crane their stems to get to 2’. Some have many densely clustered flower heads, some few or solitary flower heads. But all have those incredible rose-purple flowers, and the family resemblance is so strong, it’s hard to tell them apart.

But maybe telling them apart isn’t important. Maybe just appreciating them, ogling them, marveling at how lovely they are against that yellow backdrop is enough. If that’s the case, read no further. But if you are curious about identifying individual species, and maybe a little bit obsessive about it (I’ve found that counseling helps), read on for I am about to reveal their secret.

Their secret is this: The overlapping bracts, the modified leaves that grow around the base of each flower, differ from one species to the next. (That was worth reading on for, huh?)

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic