Liatris ligulistylis - Meadow Blazing Star

Meadow blazing star is the quintessential monarch magnet. Bold, fuchsia flowering spikes bloom for nearly six weeks in late summer, providing monarch butterflies with a premium source of nectar before their arduous migration. The choice flowers are revered by myriad other butterfly species as well as bees and even hummingbirds. The fluffy seeds that form after are eaten by goldfinches. In nature, this perfect pollinator plant typically grows two to three feet tall in full sun and rocky, well-drained soil. It also grows happily in more mesic, fertile garden soil, but can reach up to five feet in height and may require staking or support from sturdy companion plants. It has a strong vertical form and finely-textured foliage, accentuating the striking spike of fuchsia flowers. Long purple styles burst from the flowers lending them a fluffy, whimsical look. These styles earn meadow blazingstar its specific epithet, ligulistylis, which means “tongue-like styles.” Use this plant as a colorful accent in cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, and garden borders.