Also known as the dotted gayfeather, the dotted blazing star is a member of the Aster family of plants. It is native to the United States and is botanically named Liatris punctata.
Dotted Blazing Star Description
Growing one to two feet high, this perennial has typically clusters of stems but may only have one. Flowers are in wands, with narrow heads and rose-lavender, pink, or purple hues. Leaves are green and along the stem. “Dotted” in the plant name refers to the leaves that are speckled. Bloom season is between August and October.
Growing Guide
The dotted blazing star prefers to grow in full sun and in dry well drained soils. It is drought tolerant due to a long taproot. Propagate by seed or division of the corms. Division should occur in the fall or spring, while seed will need scarification and three months of cool stratification.
Distribution
This native is found in the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. It is seen in prairies and in hills.
Herbal Remedy
This plant was once used as a medicinal plant. The plant was powdered to make tea for heart pain. Other tea was for bladder, kidney, and stomach problems. Roots were pulverized and used to improve the appetite. Roots were boiled and then put on swellings.
Uses
The plant works well in a cut flower garden or for dry flower arrangements. It works well in container gardens. It will also attract butterflies to the landscape and works in butterfly gardens.
Maintenance
Flower spikes may fall over if they are not spiked. If the stalks are cut to the ground after flowering, new stalks will grow in the spring. It is a long lived flowering plant that gets “floppy” and needs spiking when in moist fertile soils.
Source: NPIN