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Stuart, Will

Liatris squarrosa

Liatris squarrosa (L.) Michx.

Scaly Blazing Star, Scaly Gayfeather, Scaly Liatris

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: LISQ

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Scaly gayfeather or blazing star may have one or several stems, each erect, unbranched, and 10-30 in. tall. Its leaves are not as numerous as in most other Liatris species. Tuft-like, red-violet flower heads are few and openly spaced in a spike along the top of the stem.

This is one of the earliest Liatris species to bloom.

From the Image Gallery

18 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches 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: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CO , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NE , OH , OK , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Distribution: VA & OH to e. CO, s. to FL & e. TX
Native Habitat: Dry, sandy prairie; thin woods

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky or sandy soils.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Butterflies frequent Liatris spp.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
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 fall.
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 stratification (3 months at 40 degrees).

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2026-09-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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