Wildflower Blazing Star - Ontario Seed Company

Liatris spicata

Native of Canada

A rare species of the Ontario Prairie producing a spectacular show of purple spikes from July through September. Plants have a good frost and wind tolerance and make an excellent dried or fresh flower. This is a valuable native wildflower that is not to be mistaken as purple loosestrife - they are two entirely different plants! Blazing Star is perfect for beds, borders or rock gardens, native plantings and pollinator and butterfly gardens. Height generally ranges from 60-120cm (2-4') but in some instances plants can be even taller. In the wild, Blazing Star is typically found growing in moist prairie or sedge meadow habitats. Perennial hardy to Zone 4.

How to Grow

Sow seed indoors in a soil-less mix in early March. Seed should have a cold treatment to improve germination. Place seed in planting tray, moisten and put in refrigerator or outside to freeze for 10 days. Bring indoors and place under lights at 20C (70F) soil temperatures. After germination, grown on under lights at a slightly cooler temperature then harden off and plant outside in a sunny site. A late fall outdoor sowing is also very effective as this allows the seed to be naturally stratified over the winter.

Perennial.

Approx. 100 seeds/pkt.