Liatris aspera aka Tall Blazing Star

Taxonomy

Liatris aspera, also known as rough blazing star, button blazing star, lacerate blazing star, tall prairie blazing star, or tall gayfeather, is a perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae family. It is found in central to eastern North America, thriving in mesic to dry prairie and dry savanna habitats. This herbaceous perennial has rough stems reaching a height of 2m, with a robust, drought-tolerant rosette of hairy green leaves. The stems bear small, narrow leaves and produce spikes of blooms up to 45cm long, composed of clusters of small purple flowers. Blooming in the summer, Liatris aspera is an upright, clump-forming plant native to Missouri, commonly found in dryish soils on prairies, open woods, glades, meadows, and along roads and railroad tracks.

Common names

Tall Blazing Star, Rough, Button, Lacerate, Tall Prairie Blazing Star

How to care for Tall Blazing Star

Difficulty

Caring for Tall Blazing Star is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.

Water

Tall Blazing Star should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Tall Blazing Star loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Tall Blazing Star prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Dormancy

During the cold period, it is common for Tall Blazing Star to go dormant, resulting in a slowdown of growth. To accommodate this, waterings should be spaced out more.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Fertilizer

Repotting the Tall Blazing Star should be done either when it has doubled in size or on a yearly basis, whichever occurs sooner. Fresh potting soil with all the required nutrients, refreshed annually, will provide the plant with all the necessary sustenance, making the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that plants receive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Growth-pattern

New growth will sprout from the top of the Tall Blazing Star as it grows vertically.


More info:
Wikipedia