Blazing star

blazing star has lavender-colored flowers to moist sandhills anywhere from September through and dry to mesic October. Graceful blazing star has light- flatwoods. Do not 2–4 ft to bright-lavender flowers in October and these species November. where the ground Nectar remains moist or Planting wet. Dense blazing star prefers a moist-wet situation, but is Blazing stars require little ground space fairly adaptable and surprisingly drought and can be used even in small gardens. tolerant. While you can plant anytime of the year, you may be most successful planting in spring after emerge from dormancy. To provide seasonal color and vertical interest, place plants in clusters in Butterflies and bees Photo by Terry Zinn Terry Photo by beds of mixed wildflowers and ornamental Blazing stars are excellent nectar Dense blazing star grasses. To lengthen your blooming plants and will reliably attract season, plant more than one species. numerous butterflies, moths, gardeners will find four native Blazing star’s thin, stiff, upright silhouette bees and other insect pollinators. species on the market: Chapman’s is complemented by plants with rounder Hummingbirds may also nectar on the blazing star ( ), Dense or spreading forms, wide strappy leaves, flowers. blazing star ( ), Evergreen L. spicata and different flower shapes and sizes. blazing star (L. laevigata) and Graceful blazing star (L. gracilis). These species are found throughout Florida. . Seeds Hardiness zones Seeds are commercially available. To Chapman’s, Dense, Evergreen and Blazing stars have long been a favorite in collect your own, wait until the flowers are Graceful blazing star can be grown in floral bouquets. Flowers start opening at light tan in color and fluffy, then shake or Zones 8A–11. the top of the stem and continue to bloom lightly brush the flowers into a container. after cutting. The brown achenes are the seeds. Other species Native Americans used these plants You may also find Elegant blazing star to treat a variety of illnesses, and Plants (L. elegans) suitable for exceptionally researchers have discovered anti-cancer Blazing stars are available in 4-inch and deep, well-drained sand in North and substances in various species. Modern gallon containers. Space plants 12 to 15 North Central Florida. herbalists use the plants for homeopathic inches apart. Keep them watered until you remedies and in potpourris and insect see new growth or seasonal rains begin. repellants. Care Description Staking is only needed when plants have Blazing stars are among our taller been over-irrigated or -fertilized and are perennial wildflowers, generally standing weak from having grown too quickly. 2 to 4 feet. One or more flowering stems Cut stems only if necessary, and carefully, rise from basal rosettes in the summer, because plants pull up easily. For this with blooms appearing anywhere from late reason, be very careful when weeding summer through fall, depending on the around them. You may want to mark your species. This is a deciduous wildflower — plants so you will remember where they it overwinters underground and sends up are in the spring. stalks from thickened, cormlike rootstock, which resembles underground bulbs. After flowering, the dead stems shelter Photo by John Moran Foliage tends to be thin or not particularly insects — an important food source for noticeable. However, Evergreen blazing birds. Birds will also feed on the seeds. Graceful blazing star star does maintain a visible basal rosette in the winter. Site conditions Non-native blazing star Chapman’s blazing star blooms as early All the plants listed here need full sun as August and into September, with plants are often sold in for best flowering and well-drained large retail stores and CAUTION light-lavender-colored blooms. Dense soils. Some blazing stars are especially blazing star, the most commonly available garden centers. Blazing sensitive to persistent moisture in the soil. star seed sold by out-of- and typically tallest of the species, has Chapman’s blazing star prefers dry, very bright lavender-colored blooms from state vendors is typically not Florida well-drained, deep sand. Graceful and native ecotype. October into early November. Evergreen Evergreen blazing star are found in dry