SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Liatris ligulistylis

Meadow Blazing Star

$3.00 - $450.00

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$7.50
1/4 oz.
$12.00
1/2 oz.
$19.50
1 oz.
$30.00
1 lb.
$450.00

1–2
$7.00
3–11
$6.00
12+
$4.20

3 Pack
Out of Stock
Tray of 50
Out of Stock

The ultimate Monarch butterfly magnet!  Seriously - plant it and they will come: watch the VIDEO!  The beautiful purple blossoms of this Liatris should be your first choice for attracting Monarch and other butterflies to sunny, medium-soil sites in late summer.  It's not uncommon to see dozens of Monarchs nectaring on a stand of Meadow Blazing Star. It blooms primarily in August, just when the Monarchs are preparing for their long migration south; a synchronization that has evolved over hundreds of years, and a good example of how native plants and pollinators are deeply dependent on one another.

These upright plants can reach 5' in rich soils; in a garden setting you may want to stake them.  The height of this Liatris make it an easy target for Monarchs and other butterflies and birds to feed.  Blossoms often appear all at once along stems and last for many weeks late summer.  Birds find the seeds appealing later in the year. 

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots
April/May October 1-2 years
Potted 3-Packs May/June September 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep pots
Potted Trays of 38* May/June N/A 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
Potted Trays of 50 May August/September 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
*This species is a choice in the Mix & Match - Create Your Own Tray!

Liatris ligulistylis - Meadow Blazing Star

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

5 Questions asked on Liatris ligulistylis

How long from seed germination to flowering size under ideal conditions???
Usually, we see blooms by the second growing season. Occasionally, if started indoors early enough and under ideal conditions, a few plants may bloom in the first growing season.
If I were to order some of the bare root Liatris Legulistylis plants and plant them this fall will they bloom next year?
It's very possible they will bloom the first growing season after transplant, but we never want to guarantee that because of the unknowns; i.e. where it gets planted, weather, critters, etc. These Liatris corms are 2 years old on average, so they are ready to reach mature height and flower.
If this plant is not shown in my state (KY) will potted plants grow here? We are in zone 6.
Yes, this Liatris will certainly be successful in KY. We list hardiness zones as 3-7. The Range Maps on our website show the native and adventive range of the plants. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.
Why doesn't this grow in Michigan? Is it a soil issue? I'm within zone (6a) but don't want to try to grow them if there is a specific reason they wouldn't grow here.
Hi Tammy. The range map doesn't show them in MI simply because there has been no documented native population; that doesn't mean your climate is not conducive. We are confident this Liatris will do very well for you in MI.
If I plant Liatris Liguilistylis this fall, what is the best method of planting to insure germination next spring? I was told I could plant these seeds this fall and wondered what is the best method. I notice that here is a stratification code needed and wondered how this works into the fall planting. Thanks!
Thanks for your question, Jeanine.

The stratification code indicates that the seed needs to go through a cold/moist period in order to break dormancy. Fall planting makes this easy because the change of the seasons is a natural stratification to break dormancy.

The C(60) for this species is the code to follow if you want to artificially stratify seeds indoors. Keeping the seeds in a cold/moist environment tricks the seeds into thinking they went through a whole winter to spring cycle and the dormancy will be broken.

So, in the late fall you can simply scatter the seeds in a prepared site and let nature do its thing! Check out this blog post that compares different planting times: Fall vs Spring seeding

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

US Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
100
Seeds/Ounce
10,000
Germination Code
C(60)
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full, Partial
Soil Moisture
Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height
5 feet
Bloom Time
August, September
Bloom Color
Purple
Advantages
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perch
Deer Resistant
Highly recommended for home landscaping
USDA Zones
3-7
Plant Spacing
1-2'
Catalog Code
LIA06F