Dotted Blazing-star

Liatris punctata

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Carmenta anthracipennis (Sesiidae)
S14 root-boring clearwing moth, USA record
🐝 Specialist Bee Host: S17 genus Liatris not found in Fowler; S64 NPPBI flags specialist bee but no species named

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) and nationally secure in Canada (N5). Not listed under SARA. Native range in Canada limited to the prairie provinces (AB, SK, MB). Not ranked in Ontario or Quebec as species is not considered native to those provinces. Herbarium specimens from Ontario may represent naturalized or introduced populations.
S22 S26 S1 S48
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A deep-rooted perennial forb of the Great Plains, Liatris punctata is characteristic of dry prairies, loess hills, and sandy grasslands from Alberta to Texas. Its exceptionally deep taproot (over 2 m) makes it the most drought-tolerant of the blazing stars. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan it reaches its northern range limit on native prairie remnants. The species is absent from the Ottawa-Gatineau region and all of Ontario and Quebec in its native range.
S4 S58 S1 S29

Roles: Fire Retardant, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = High (not definitional)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]
Notes: A valuable companion in prairie and xeric garden designs for its deep taproot (which does not compete with shallow-rooted neighbours), late-season bloom attracting pollinators, and fire tolerance. The long taproot accesses deep moisture and nutrients, potentially benefiting adjacent plants through hydraulic lift. Best paired with other prairie forbs and grasses in full-sun, well-drained settings.
S4 S11 S58 S29

Category: Analgesic, Antipruritic, Dermatological Aid, Diuretic, Gastrointestinal Aid, Urinary Aid, Veterinary Aid
S28 S29
Notes: Widely used medicinally by Plains Indigenous nations. The Blackfoot took root infusions for stomachaches and applied boiled root poultices to swellings. The Meskwaki used root infusions for bloody urine, bladder trouble, gonorrhea, and as a wash for itching skin. The Comanche chewed roots for swollen testes. The Meskwaki also prepared root infusions for horses to increase stamina in hot weather. PFAF lists the plant as antipruritic, diuretic, stomachic, and poultice.
S28 S29

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Roots were eaten raw or cooked by several Indigenous nations including the Blackfoot, Kiowa, Lakota, and Tewa. The sweet-flavoured roots were traditionally baked over a fire in springtime. The Lakota pulverized and ate roots to improve appetite. PFAF rates edibility 1 of 5, noting the root can be eaten raw or cooked with a sweet flavour when harvested in spring.
S28 S29