dense blazing-star

Plant Type

Herbaceous Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

2-6 ft. tall
.5-1.5 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Occasional Flooding

Propagation

By seed

Plant Propagation Notes

New colonies can be produced from its corms but seed is more common. Scarified seeds may be sown outside in late fall or stored, stratified 3 months at 40 degrees F), and sown the following spring. Wait until the flower heads on the entire stalk have turned fluffy tan before collecting seed.

Plant Planting Notes

Dense blazing star is attractive in mass plantings in a pollinator garden, perennial border, native plant garden, or cottage garden. Suitable for rain gardens.  Taller stems may require staking.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Nectar source for hummingbirds

Leaves

The basal clump of alternate, narrow deep green leaves with a strong central vein are up to 12 inches long and 1/3 inch wide. Leaves grow smaller as they ascend the flower stalk. They are glabrous to sparsely hairy. Margins are entire.

Flowers

6-12 inch long flower spikes are densely packed with stemless flowers in purple, pink or white that bloom from the top down. Some cultivars have red flowers. Individual flowers contain 4 to 10 disks florets (no ray florets), are 1/3- 1/2 inch across with an exserted style.

Fruit

Cypselae (a type of achene) with stiff light brown bristles in fall.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

USDA Hardiness Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Light Exposure

Full Sun

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Prairies (calcareous), roadsides, seepages, bogs, and grassy balds.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Within SC, dense blazing star is absent in the Coastal Plain, rare in the Piedmont, and rare in the Mountains.