Liatris gracilis Pursh

Slender Blazing Star; Slender Gayfeather

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Slender Blazing Star is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It occurs in the southern half of Alabama where it is often abundant. Slender Blazing Star grows in sand hills, in pine and scrub oak forests, on dunes, and in dry pine/turkey oak forests on red clay. It is perennial from a roundish corm (an upright thickened underground stem). The leaves and stem are hairy. Slender Blazing Star has a cluster of larger basal leaves. The leaves are often twisted perpendicular to the direct rays of the sun at mid-day. The stem leaves are quickly reduced in size. The flowers are produced in heads on short pedicles (stalks). Flowers are light to dark purple in color, and there are three to six per head. The heads open from the top of the stem to the base. The fruit is a pubescent achene with a tuff white bristles at its top. Slender Blazing Star is available as seed or “bulbs” (corms) from several wildflower nurseries. It tolerates drought and grows well in a variety of soil types. Slender Blazing Star requires full sun. Plants not receiving enough sunlight may not flower, or it they do they may grow so tall that they fall over. Slender Blazing Star works well towards the back of a perennial bed with other late blooming species. It is a popular cut flower and is also a good nectar plant for butterflies.--A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL)

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