{"product_id":"prairie-blazing-star-liatris-pycnostachya","title":"Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)","description":"\u003ch2\u003ePrairie Blazing Star \u003cem\u003e(Liatris pycnostachya)\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrairie Blazing Star is the tallest and most dramatic of the native Liatris species — its dense, uninterrupted spikes of magenta-purple flowers rising 4 to 5 feet above the prairie in midsummer, creating a vertical purple exclamation point visible from across the garden. It blooms earlier than \u003cem\u003eLiatris spicata\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eL. aspera\u003c\/em\u003e, extending the Blazing Star season from July through October when all three species are planted together.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBotanical Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Asteraceae (Daisy family)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Central North America from Wisconsin to Louisiana and west to South Dakota and Texas; native to Louisiana's upland prairies and well-drained grasslands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–9\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–5 feet tall — the tallest native Liatris\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e July–August (earlier than L. spicata; opens top to bottom)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSun:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained, average to dry; drought-tolerant; grows from a corm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEcological Role\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrairie Blazing Star is a premier monarch butterfly nectar plant, its midsummer bloom providing critical fuel for monarchs during their northward migration in spring and early southward migration in late summer. It also supports bumblebees, specialist \u003cem\u003eLiatris\u003c\/em\u003e bees, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. Its seeds feed American Goldfinches through fall. Planted alongside \u003cem\u003eLiatris spicata\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eL. aspera\u003c\/em\u003e, it creates a continuous purple Blazing Star bloom from July through October — a three-month monarch fueling station in the Louisiana garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIn the Living Canopy \u0026amp; Understory\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePart of the \u003cem\u003eJardin — The Living Canopy \u0026amp; Understory\u003c\/em\u003e collection at Big Mamou Enterprises, Prairie Blazing Star is the tallest purple torch in the native garden — bold, early, and irresistible to monarchs from the first days of July.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Big Mamou Enterprises","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49766149521648,"sku":null,"price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0824\/7171\/5056\/files\/image_4131e9b0-f6ed-4273-b11f-d7fd4ffd4df0.png?v=1779824294","url":"https:\/\/realtimecajun.com\/products\/prairie-blazing-star-liatris-pycnostachya","provider":"Big Mamou Enterprises","version":"1.0","type":"link"}