Liatris squarrosa var. squarrosa (Native)

Common Name
Scaly blazing star
Plant Form
Herbs
Duration
Perennial
Max Height (ft)
3.0
Width (ft)
0.5 - 1.0
Growth Rate
Medium
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain
Hardiness Zone
5, 6, 7, 8

Commercially Available

My Native Garden

Put together a printable/downloadable list of plants that you have in your garden.

View have list (0)

Photographer: Jared Gorrell
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

iNaturalist Research-grade Observation Image Gallery
Additional Info

Habitat: Dry woodlands, clearings, fields, meadows, and roadsides. Frequent to common in the Virginia Piedmont; rare in the extreme inner Coastal Plain; disjunct to Lee County in the far southwestern mountains.

Wildlife Value: Attracts pollinators, moths, butterflies and hummingbirds

Pruning Guidance
Pruning Time
Late spring (after insect emergence)
Pruning Method
Cut stems to 8–24 inches in spring
Chop-and-drop
Wildlife Benefits
Seedheads provide winter food for birds
Standing stems support overwintering insects
Cut stems retained at 8–24 inches support insect habitat
Pruning Notes
Leave stems and seedheads standing through fall and winter. Insects shelter in and on the stems. In late spring, after several nights above 50°F, cut the old stems to 8 to 24 inches at varied heights. Bees and other insects nest in the cut stubs the following summer. Lay the cut tops loosely in the bed so insects still inside can emerge. Seeds are eaten by goldfinches.
Flower Color
Purple/lavender
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Early Summer
Late Summer
Fall
Bloom Month
June
July
August
Light Requirements
Full sun
Moisture Requirements
Average
Soil Texture
Loamy
Sandy
Shallow rocky
Low Maintenance
Yes
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Pollinators
Bees
Butterfiles
Hummingbirds
Recommended for
Border
Butterfly garden
Drought tolerant garden
Pollinator garden
Rock garden
Songbirds
Tolerates
Dry soils, drought
Poor soil
Species-specific links
Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora - Species Account
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Species Account