Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star)
Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star)
Couldn't load pickup availability
$30 minimum per species for seed.
$30 minimum per species for seed.
Each species requires a minimum of $30 of seed to proceed with checkout.
Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) refers to the percentage of a seed lot that consists of the desired species and is viable (capable of germination).
Here's why PLS is crucial for native seeds:
-
Accurate Planting:
- PLS helps determine the actual number of viable seeds in a given weight or volume of seed.
- This ensures you plant the correct amount of seed to achieve the desired density and success rate.
-
Cost-Effectiveness:
- By knowing the PLS, you can avoid overspending on seed that may not germinate.
- This is especially important for native seeds, which can be more expensive than some cultivated varieties.
-
Weed Control:
- PLS helps minimize the presence of weed seeds within the seed lot.
- This reduces competition for resources and ensures the successful establishment of the desired native plants.
-
Ecological Restoration:
- Using high-quality native seeds with a high PLS is essential for successful ecological restoration projects.
- It helps to re-establish diverse and resilient plant communities that support local wildlife.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) produces dense purple flower spikes in late summer. The closely packed heads stand above narrow leaves, with flowering stalks reaching about 4 feet. It has a more continuous flower spike than rough blazing star.
Full sun and moist to average soil suit it. Place it in an open prairie planting or a perennial bed where moisture is available without leaving the crown in poorly drained ground. The upright stems fit among grasses and other perennials that will not shade them heavily.
Additional shoots can form close to the parent plant, creating small groups over time. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers, while seed-eating birds can use the mature heads. Retaining some stalks after flowering keeps those seed heads in the planting instead of removing them all for tidiness.
Plant specifications & ecological relationships
Key growing facts
| Sunlight | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Moist to mesic |
| Height | Up to 4 ft |
| Bloom season | Late summer |
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Upright perennial with occasional offsets close to the parent plant |
|---|---|
| Root form | Corm |
| Soil pH | 6.0–8.5 |
| Cultivation hardiness zones | Zones 3a–9b (NC State cultivation guidance) |
| Drought tolerance | Established plants tolerate some drought; seedlings and recent transplants are vulnerable |
| Deer browsing | Mature plants are vulnerable to deer browsing. |
| Salt tolerance | Low |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Liatris pycnostachya |
|---|---|
| Other common names | prairie gay feather; Cattail Blazing Star; Prairie Blazing Star |
| Seed germination | USDA lists cold stratification as required; duration is not specified. |
| Plant family | Asteraceae |
| Seeds per pound — reference estimate | 120000 |
Plant characteristics
This perennial plant is medium in height native plant. An excellent addition to any perennial garden, butterfly garden, or any yard. It's purple flowering spikes are just beautiful!
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
| Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest | FAC |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 8 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Arkansas; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska; New Jersey; New York; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; South Dakota; Texas; Wisconsin |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Supplementary Illinois preserve records
Recorded Liatris pycnostachya at Loda. The plants below occur in the same named preserve inventories. This is evidence of shared preserve occurrence, not proof that every pair grows together in one microsite.
These mesic black-soil prairie inventories are from central Illinois: Loda (Iroquois County), Prospect (Ford County) and Weston (McLean County). They include introduced plants and are not county-nativity lists or planting recommendations.
- Acalypha gracilens — Slender Mercury (Loda)
- Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow) (Loda)
- Allium canadense (Wild Garlic) (Loda)
- Ambrosia artemisiifolia — Common Ragweed (Loda)
- Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant) (Loda)
- Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) (Loda)
- Apocynum sibiricum — Indian Hemp (Loda)
- Asclepias sullivantii (Prairie Milkweed) (Loda)
- Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) (Loda)
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed) Seed Packet (Loda)
- Asclepias verticillata (Whorled Milkweed) (Loda)
- Asparagus officinalis — Wild Asparagus (Loda)
- Aster pilosus — Hairy-Aster (Loda)
- Aster praealthus — Willow Aster (Loda)
- Baptisia leucantha — White Wild Indigo (Loda)
- Blephilia ciliata (Downy Wood Mint) (Loda)
- Cacalia tuberosa — Prairie Indian Plantain (Loda)
- Calystegia sepium — American Bindweed (Loda)
- Carex annectens (Small Yellow Fox Sedge) (Loda)
- Carex bicknellii (Copper-shouldered Oval Sedge) (Loda)
- Carex granularis — Pale Sedge (Loda)
- Carex gravida (Long-awned Bracted Sedge / Heavy Sedge) (Loda)
- Carex meadii (Mead's Sedge) (Loda)
- Carex molesta (Troublesome Sedge) (Loda)
- Cassia fasciculata — Partridge Pea (Loda)
- Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea) (Loda)
- Celastrus scandens — Bittersweet (Loda)
- Chamaesyce maculata — Nodding Spurge (Loda)
- Chrysanthemum leucanthemum — Ox-eye Daisy (Loda)
- Cichorium intybus — Chicory (Loda)
- Cirsium discolor — Pasture Thistle (Loda)
- Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty) (Loda)
- Convallaria majalis — Lily-of-the-valley (Loda)
- Coreopsis tripteris (Tall Coreopsis) (Loda)
- Cornus drummondii — Rough-leaved Dogwood (Loda)
- Cornus racemosa — Gray Dogwood (Loda)
- Dactylis glomerata — Orchard Grass (Loda)
- Dalea purpurea or Petalostemum purpureum (Purple Prairie Clover) (Loda)
- Daucus carota — Queen Anne’s Lace (Loda)
- Desmodium canadense (Showy Tick Trefoil) (Loda)
- Desmodium illinoense — Illinois Tick Trefoil (Loda)
- Diospyros virginiana (American Persimmon) (Loda)
- Dipsacus laciniatus — Cut-leaf Teasel (Loda)
- Dipsacus sylvestris — Common Teasel (Loda)
- Dodecatheon media — Shooting Star (Loda)
- Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower) (Loda)
- Eleocharis compressa — Golden-seeded Spike Rush (Loda)
- Elymus canadensis (Canada Wild Rye) (Loda)
- Elymus virginicus (Virginia Wild Rye) (Loda)
- Erigeron annuus — Annual Fleabane (Loda)
- Erigeron strigosus — Daisy Fleabane (Loda)
- Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master) (Loda)
- Eupatorium serotinum — Late Boneset (Loda)
- Euphorbia corollata (Flowering Spurge) (Loda)
- Festuca pratensis — Meadow Fescue (Loda)
- Fragaria virginiana (Wild Strawberry) (Loda)
- Galium obtusum — Wild Madder (Loda)
- Gaura biennis — Butterfly-weed (Loda)
- Geum canadense — White Avens (Loda)
- Helianthus grosseserratus (Saw-tooth Sunflower) (Loda)
- Helianthus rigidus — Prairie Sunflower (Loda)
- Hemerocallis fulva — Orange Day Lily (Loda)
- Houstonia purpurea — Broad-leafed Bluets (Loda)
- Hypericum perforatum — Commons St. John’s Wort (Loda)
- Hypericum sphaerocarpum — Round-fruited St. John’s Wort (Loda)
- Hypoxis hirsuta — Yellow Star Grass (Loda)
- Juncus interior (Inland Rush) (Loda)
- Lactuca canadensis — Wild Lettuce (Loda)
- Lespedeza capitata (Round-headed Bush Clover) (Loda)
- Lobelia spicata (Pale Spiked Lobelia) (Loda)
- Lysimachia lanceolata — Lance-leafed Loosestrife (Loda)
- Lysimachia nummularia — Moneywort (Loda)
- Lythrum alatum (Winged Loosestrife) (Loda)
- Malus ioensis (Prairie Crab Apple) (Loda)
- Medicago lupulina — Black Medick (Loda)
- Melilotus alba — White Sweet Clover (Loda)
- Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot / Bee Balm) (Loda)
- Oenothera pilosella (Prairie Sundrops) (Loda)
- Oxalis dillenii — Yellow Wood Sorrel (Loda)
- Panicum acuminatum — Panic Grass (Loda)
- Panicum leibergii — Prairie Panic Grass (Loda)
- Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) (Loda)
- Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine) (Loda)
- Pastinaca sativa — Wild Parsnip (Loda)
- Perideridia americana — Thicket Parsley (Loda)
- Phleum pratense — Timothy (Loda)
- Phlox pilosa (Prairie Phlox) (Loda)
- Physalis heterophylla — Clammy Ground Cherry (Loda)
- Physalis subglabrata — Tall Ground Cherry (Loda)
- Platanthera leucophaea — Prairie White Fringed Orchid (Loda)
- Poa pratensis — Kentucky Bluegrass (Loda)
- Polygala verticillata — Wholed Milkwort (Loda)
- Polygonum amphibium — Water Knotweed (Loda)
- Polytaenia nuttallii — Prairie Parsley (Loda)
- Potentilla simplex — Common Cinquefoil (Loda)
- Prunella vulgaris — Self Heal (Loda)
- Prunus americana (American Plum) (Loda)
- Prunus serotina (Wild Black Cherry) (Loda)
- Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Slender Mountain Mint) (Loda)
- Pycnanthemum virginianum (Common Mountain Mint) (Loda)
- Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower) (Loda)
- Rhus radicans — Poison Ivy (Loda)
- Rosa carolina (Pasture Rose) (Loda)
- Rubus pensilvanicus — Pennsylvania Blackberry (Loda)
- Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) (Loda)
- Rudbeckia triloba (Brown-eyed Susan) (Loda)
- Ruellia humilis (Wild Petunia) (Loda)
- Rumex crispus — Curly Dock (Loda)
- Sanicula canadensis — Canadian Black Snakeroot (Loda)
- Schizachyrium scoparium or Andropogon scoparius (Little Bluestem) (Loda)
- Scirpus pendulus (Nodding Bulrush or Rufous Bulrush) (Loda)
- Scutellaria leonardii — Small Skullcap (Loda)
- Setaria glauca — Yellow Foxtail (Loda)
- Silphium integrifolium (Rosinweed) (Loda)
- Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant) (Loda)
- Silphium terebinthinaceum (Prairie Dock) (Loda)
- Sisyrinchium albidum (Common Blue-eyed Grass) (Loda)
- Solanum carolinense — Horse Nettle (Loda)
- Solidago canadensis — Canada Goldenrod (Loda)
- Solidago gigantea — Late Goldenrod (Loda)
- Solidago graminifolia — Grass-leaved Goldenrod (Loda)
- Solidago juncea (Early Goldenrod) (Loda)
- Solidago missouriensis — Missouri Goldenrod (Loda)
- Solidago nemoralis (Old Field Goldenrod) (Loda)
- Solidago rigida — Rigid Goldenrod (Loda)
- Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass) (Loda)
- Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cordgrass) (Loda)
- Sporobolus heterolepis (Northern Dropseed) (Loda)
- Symphyotrichum ericoides or Aster ericoides (Heath Aster) (source: Aster ericoides) (Loda)
- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster) (source: Aster novae-angliae) (Loda)
- Thaspium barbinode — Hairy Meadow Parsnip (Loda)
- Tragopogon dupius — Sand Goat’s Beard (Loda)
- Tragopogon pratensis — Common Goat’s Beard (Loda)
- Trifolium pratense — Red Clover (Loda)
- Verbena canadensis — Rose Vervain (Loda)
- Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's Root) (Loda)
- Viola pedatifida (Prairie Violet) (Loda)
- Viola pratincola — Common Blue Violet (Loda)
- Viola soraria — Woolly Blue Violet (Loda)
- Vitis riparia (Riverbank Grape) (Loda)
- Zizia aurea (Golden Alexanders) (Loda)
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Bees & other flower visitors
USGS observations recorded the following insects visiting flowers of this plant in Minnesota. The records describe visits, without distinguishing pollen collection from nectar feeding or measuring successful pollination. They do not establish local occurrence, exclusive dependence, or a larval-host relationship.
Bees
- Bombus sp. (genus only) — Minnesota; 2016.
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Prairie Blazing Star?
Liatris pycnostachya performs best in full sun with mesic to wet (tallgrass prairies) conditions. It thrives in authentic regional soil types ranging from sandy loam to well-drained clay loams.
How do I germinate and establish Prairie Blazing Star from seed?
Seed of Liatris pycnostachya has a germination code of C(60). For best results, sow seed in late fall/winter for natural outdoor freeze-thaw stratification, or cold-moist stratify in refrigeration for 30 to 60 days before spring indoor propagation.
Is Prairie Blazing Star deer and herbivore resistant?
Yes. Native plants adapted to Midwestern habitats naturally produce protective secondary compounds and fibrous textures that make them highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and other grazing herbivores.
When should I expect Prairie Blazing Star to emerge and bloom?
Established plants break dormancy in spring as soil temperatures warm, developing vigorous foliage before blooming in their seasonal window to provide vital nectar when native pollinators need it most.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Chicago-region assessment: Wilhelm & Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region, via Kenneth Johnson’s Universal FQA dataset (2018). Chicago-region native status is separate from U.S. nativity.
The C-value and Chicago-region native status shown here also agree with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago Region FQA dataset (2017), distributed through the USACE/ERDC fqadata package under CC0.
Flora of the Chicago Region (2017) records this taxon as native in the Chicago region.
The state list describes native botanical distribution. It does not establish county nativity or occurrence, suitability for every site, or the origin of the plants and seeds offered here. An unlisted state is not proof of absence.
Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.
State and county nativity: The state list uses WCVP records marked native, excluding introduced, extinct and doubtful records. County nativity has not yet been verified for this listing. Presence in a county or preserve does not establish nativity there.
Preserve records: INHS inventories of Loda, Prospect and Weston prairies, compiled principally from records by Paul Shildneck, Kenneth R. Robertson and John Taft. Selected occurrence facts regrouped by Natural Communities; inventory native flags and 1997 Illinois C-values are not used for the assessments on this page.
Available Flora-linked Chicago assessments remain controlling. These regional ecology accounts supplement evidence not available for direct reuse from the Flora; they are not represented as Chicago Flora association lists.
Source: Otto, C., Bryant, R. & Euliss, N.H. Jr. (2020), The U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Library Dataset, observations from 2012–2017. USGS public-domain federal data; selected and grouped by Natural Communities. This page uses 3 source records. Names retain the source identification level; “sp.” does not name a particular species. Some visits were observed without retaining specimens.
C-value source: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), Universal FQA database 80. Matched source taxon: Liatris pycnostachya. Exact.
Sources checked September 5, 2026. Regional assessments and growing observations apply to their stated settings. Unverified fields are omitted; missing information does not mean an ecological relationship is absent.
- Illinois Wildflowers — John Hilty. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Bloom Season; Deer Resistance; Drought Tolerance; Height; Opening botanical description; Primary Native Habitats; Root Architecture & Depth; Soil Moisture Range; Spread Habit; Sun Exposure; Sunlight Exposure.
- Universal FQA — Flora-linked Chicago database 80. Taxonomic names, family and regional nativity originally checked against Kenneth Johnson’s Flora-linked database 80 (2018), citing Wilhelm & Rericha (2017). Limited factual identification only; the C-value follows this Flora-linked database wherever an exact or documented synonym match is available. Supports: Alternate Common Names; Botanical Name; Chicago-region native status; Plant Family.
- USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Alternate Common Names; USDA Hardiness Zones.
- USDA NRCS PLANTS — taxon profile and characteristics. USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, checked September 5, 2026. Numeric and categorical taxon-level facts only; no photographs or third-party guide prose reproduced. Supports: Germination Code; Salt Tolerance; Seeds per pound — USDA reference estimate; Soil pH Range.
- USACE National Wetland Plant List 2022 — Midwest. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2022 National Wetland Plant List, Midwest region; effective February 13, 2024. Federal data. Supports: Wetland Indicator Status.
- USDA Forest Service — FEIS, wildflower accounts and seed manual. Walsh, Roberta A. 1993. Helianthus maximiliani. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System. Public-domain synthesis; community records retain their reported geography. Supports: Documented community associate: Helianthus maximiliani.
Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.
The linked Illinois plant relationships were reconciled with INHS-hosted source inventories on September 6, 2026. Same-remnant pairs were calculated from shared named-site occurrences and organized for this catalog; they are not copied narrative descriptions or proof of microsite compatibility.
Source names are retained where a current name or product match has not been verified.
Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.
Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories
- Retail - We only offer shipping & shipping is calculated at check out*
- We do not offer retail pick up
- Wholesale - Delivery is customized based on order size and location
- Wholesale - Pickup is free
Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.
Wholesale Orders
- Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.
Retail & Website Orders
- Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
- Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
- Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
- If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months.
- Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
- Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
- If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready. In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments
- Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability. We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish. If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date. If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
- Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
- Apparel & accessories are ready typically within one to two weeks. See product page for holiday shipping.
Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
- Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
- Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
- Inspect for damage and report any issues immediately to Natives@NaturalCommunities.net
- Water your plants
- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
- If you cannot install your plants immediately
- Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
There is a minimum order requirement of $30 for each seed species. Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance. We hope you find it helpful. If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.
Consultation Services
Ecosystem Restoration Considerations
Native Seed Establishment Best Management Practices
Native Seed Stratification Best Management Practices
Solving a Site Problem? Get Expert Advice + Get Store Credit
Whether you're fighting severe erosion, replacing invasive species, designing a pollinator haven, or seeding large acreage, choosing the wrong species wastes time and money. Talk 1-on-1 with a restoration ecologist to map out the exact species, plug counts, or seed mixes for your soil and goals. Book a consultation and get all or a portion credited directly back to your order.