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Cressler, Alan

Liatris cylindracea

Liatris cylindracea Michx.

Ontario Blazing Star, Ontario Gayfeather, Ontario Liatris, Dwarf Blazing Star, Dwarf Gayfeather, Dwarf Liatris

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Lacinaria cylindracea

USDA Symbol: LICY

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

An 8-24 in., stout, erect perennial with rough, linear leaves and a long raceme composed of up to 150 magenta-purple flowerheads.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DE , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MI , MN , MO , NY , OH , TN , WI
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: W. NY to OH & s.e MN, s. to AL & AR
Native Habitat: Prairies; dry, open places

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, limey soils.
Conditions Comments: Volunteer seedlings can be abundant.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Scarified seeds may be sown outside in late fall or stored, stratified and sown the following spring. Some sources suggest spring seedlings will appear by simply laying the flowering stalk in an outdoor seedbed and covering with 1/2 in. of soil in the fa
Seed Collection: Wait until the flower heads on the entire stalk have turned fluffy tan before collecting. Bring the stalks inside to air-dry then shake or brush the nutlets from the heads. Seeds can be stored with chaff in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: Scarification (lightly nick with knife) and dry stratification (3 months at 40 degrees).
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Liatris cylindracea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Liatris cylindracea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Liatris cylindracea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-29
Research By: TWC Staff

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