Prairie Blazing Star, Liatris pycnostachya Michx., Native Minnesota wildflowers of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

L. pycnostachya grows from 2 to 5' high and has leafy and hairy stems up to the flower spike. Stem leaves are linear, narrow, lance shaped and up to 1/2" wide, densely populating the stem in alternate manner. The inflorescence (flower area) appears as a dense spike. The spike contains a large number of flower heads, each with only 5 to 7 small tubular 5-lobed purple flowers and each flower with two curly styles pointing outward. Flower heads open from the top of the stem downward. The flower head bracts taper to pointed tips which curve outward. Heads are stalkless. This is similar to L. spicata, except that L. spicata has more flowers per head and has rounded bract tips that also curve outward. L. spicata and L. pycnostachya are difficult to distinguish without close inspection. The plant grows from a corm structure, which can produce additional plants. Seeds are dry achenes that disperse by the wind. For good plant growth, sun and moisture are required. Dry conditions will cause leaf loss and too little sun will cause twisted growth. This blazing star blooms as early as mid-July.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Prairie Blazing Star	Liatris pycnostachya Michx.	Aster (Asteraceae)	Upland	Late summer
Other names and notes	L. pycnostachya grows from 2 to 5' high and has leafy and hairy stems up to the flower spike. Stem leaves are linear, narrow, lance shaped and up to 1/2" wide, densely populating the stem in alternate manner. The inflorescence (flower area) appears as a dense spike. The spike contains a large number of flower heads, each with only 5 to 7 small tubular 5-lobed purple flowers and each flower with two curly styles pointing outward. Flower heads open from the top of the stem downward. The flower head bracts taper to pointed tips which curve outward. Heads are stalkless. This is similar to L. spicata, except that L. spicata has more flowers per head and has rounded bract tips that also curve outward. L. spicata and L. pycnostachya are difficult to distinguish without close inspection. The plant grows from a corm structure, which can produce additional plants. Seeds are dry achenes that disperse by the wind. For good plant growth, sun and moisture are required. Dry conditions will cause leaf loss and too little sun will cause twisted growth. This blazing star blooms as early as mid-July.