Liatris spicata, commonly known as blazing star, is at the height of its bloom right now in Kansas City.
A native wet prairie perennial, blazing star is easily grown in average to medium soil that is well-drained. An excellent choice for rain gardens, blazing star tolerates moist soil during the summer, but will succumb to wet soil in the winter. It has a clump forming habit with foot long flower stalks rising from its basal foliage. The reddish- purple blooms are fluffy disks that attract birds and butterflies.
