Rough Blazing Star

Plant Info

Also known as:	Tall Blazing Star, Gayfeather
Scientific name:	Liatris aspera
Family:	Aster (Asteraceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; dry prairies, open woods, along roads
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	1 to 4 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in a spike cluster 6 to 18 inches long of purple to pinkish flower heads. Each flower head is about 1 inch across and made up of 25 to 40 star-shaped disk flowers with a long stringy style emerging from the center. The flower heads may be stalked but tend to be stalkless. Flowers bloom from the top of the plant down.

The bracts are rounded; the edges fold inward and have jagged edges. The bract color is green or tinged with purple.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are narrow and blade-like with a prominent central vein and pointed tip, becoming progressively smaller as they ascend the stem. Leaves at the base of the plant are up to 12 inches long, less grass-like in shape and have long leaf stems; those farther up the plant have no leaf stem and average about 3 inches long. Leaves have a rough texture from short stiff hairs. Attachment is alternate, but are crowded on the stem so may appear to be whorled. The main stem is ridged and is also rough from short stiff hairs, but may become smooth with age. Stem color is green or dark red.

Notes:

There are multiple species of Blazing Star native to Minnesota and the easiest way to tell them apart is by the bracts. Rough Blazing Star has round bracts with fringed edges that curl or fold in.

Blazing Star has a special nectar that Monarch Butterflies must feed on before migrating to Mexico for the winter. Without this nectar, they may not survive the trip.

More photos

• full length of plant, about 30 inches tall

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN and Wild River State Park, Center City, MN July-September 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

Post a comment

Note: All comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff out. An email address is required, but will not be posted—it will only be used for information exchange between the 2 of us (if needed) and will never be given to a 3rd party without your express permission.

Please: Do not ask about where to buy seed or other gardening questions, are plants edible, etc. I am not a horticulturist or botanist, just an enthusiastic hobbyist so I probably don't know the answer. Please check the links page for additional resources. -thanks much

Your Name:

Your email address: (required)

Comment: