By Erica Ballard
One of the most rewarding facets of my native garden is using it as a teaching tool for my neighborhood. A colorful Grow Native! garden sign near my mailbox announces the purposeful intent of my native plantings, which help native pollinators and wild songbirds. Many of my front yard plants are labeled with metal tags, and I frequently see walkers stopping by to examine whatever happens to be in bloom that day.
It has led to many interesting conversations.
One of my neighbors is an avid nature enthusiast, but isn’t exactly sure where to start when planting natives. She often comes over to look for ideas, but really couldn’t contain her surprise one day when looking at one particular species. “What are those Dr. Seuss plants?” she asked, pointing toward a prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya).
If you are familiar with this species, you might know about the growth habit to which she was referring. The plants have green, feathery leaves along a long, slender stem. The flowers, which remind me of little purple fireworks, bloom several at a time, starting from the top of the stalk. The stem and flower inflorescence sometimes twist and make squiggly shapes as they reach toward the sun, especially before they are in full bloom. In my yard, these four-foot-tall plants are often covered in bumblebees and brown and yellow skippers.
As you plan your next native garden, consider including plants such as prairie blazing star that add visual interest to your yard. Not only does their height stand out, but also their often slightly curling shape. Think of them as an exclamation point that adds a dash of purple color in the middle of the summer. As previously mentioned, they are also important pollinator plants for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Prairie blazing star grows well in full sun with moderate to dry moisture conditions. More information on prairie blazing star can be found at the Grow Native! Native Plant Database. Additionally, a great list of companion plants that pair well with blazing star species can be found on in this Grow Native! Top Ten list.
Erica Ballard is a curriculum developer, working for a parochial school in St. Louis, and an education consultant working on contract for the Missouri Prairie Foundation and its Grow Native! program.
Photos of prairie blazing star by Erica Ballard.
