Meadow Blazing-star

Meadow Blazing-star

Liatris ligulistylis

Plant Type
Forb/herb (Deciduous)
Landscape Layer
Herb
Sun
☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun
Moisture
🏜️ Dry, 💧 Regular
Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand, Rocky / Acidic, Calcareous
Bloom
July, August, September, October
Sociability
S1 – Solitary / small clusters

Pollinator Value

🐝 Specialist Bee Host

S17 genus Liatris not found in Fowler specialist bee list

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score
2
Native Status
❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ❌ ON
Closest Direction
NW
CEC Eco-Regions
9 – Great Plains, 9.2 – Temperate Prairies, 9.2.2 – Lake Manitoba and Lake Agassiz Plain
Rarity Notes
Globally secure (G5) with a Canadian national rank of N4. Not listed under SARA. Native range in Canada limited to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Not ranked in Ontario or Quebec as species is not native to those provinces.
Migration
Stable
Ecological Context
A prairie perennial of the northern Great Plains, Liatris ligulistylis grows from a corm in mesic to dry prairies, pine barrens, and clearings in aspen and pine woods. Its native range centres on Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in Canada, extending south through the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and east to Wisconsin and Iowa. The species occupies a broad elevation range (100-2400 m) and thrives in sandy to clay soils.

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles
Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

Notes
Meadow blazing star is described by Xerces Society as 'the ultimate monarch magnet, even compared to other Liatris,' making it a premier companion for pollinator-focused plantings. Plant alongside other late-summer prairie forbs to extend the bloom season. Its upright, narrow habit pairs well with shorter groundcover species and grasses.

Edibility & Foraging

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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❌ Not Edible   

Foraging Notes
No edible uses documented in Moerman's Native American Ethnobotany Database or PFAF.

Seed Source

  • Blazing Star
Meadow Blazing-star