Rough blazing star
(Liatris aspera)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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Rough blazing star is a common, late summer wildflower. It occurs in the United States east of the Great Plains. It is found in dry prairies, savannas, and open woodlands. It grows in sandy soil under full sun. It flowers from mid-August through September. Three varieties of Liatris aspera have been described. Two of the varieties have been recorded in Minnesota, but very few records of the plant have been classified to the variety rank. Very few taxonomic authorities recognize any varieties. |
Description |
Rough blazing star is an erect perennial with one or two stems. The stems are leafy, green or dark red, unbranched, and rough to the touch. Basal leaves are narrowly elliptic, 3″ to 10″ long, and ¼″ to 1″ wide. Stem leaves narrower and shorter, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the stem. The inflorescence is a spike-like cluster of 10 or more pinkish-purple flower heads at the end of the stem. The flower heads are about 1″ wide and are stalkless or on stalks that are no more than 3 ⁄16″ long. |
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 8/23/2025). |
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| 8/23/2025 | ||
Taxonomy |
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Kingdom |
Plantae (green algae and land plants) |
Subkingdom |
Viridiplantae (green plants) |
Infrakingdom |
Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) |
Superdivision |
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Division |
Tracheophyta (vascular plants) |
Subdivision |
Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants) |
Class |
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Superorder |
Asteranae |
Order |
Asterales (sunflowers, bellflowers, fanflowers, and allies) |
Family |
Asteraceae (sunflowers, daisies, asters, and allies) |
Subfamily |
Asteroideae |
Supertribe |
Helianthodae |
Tribe |
Eupatorieae (bonesets, blazingstars, and allies) |
Subtribe |
Liatrinae |
Genus |
Liatris (blazing stars) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Lacinaria aspera Lacinaria squarrosa var. intermedia Liatris aspera var. salutans |
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Common Names |
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lacerate blazing star rough blazing star rough gayfeather tall blazing star tall gayfeather |
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Glossary
Term
Definition
Visitor Photos |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Odd or deformed Rough Blazing Star... I only seen 2 like this out of thousands of them blooming. A soldier beetle was on it. |
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| Strange looking rough blazing star | Soldier Beetle on top of deformed rough blazing star |
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Nancy Falkum |
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Oronoco Prairie SNA Buckeye ‘Junonia coenia’ on Rough Blazing Star ‘Liatris aspera’ |
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Oronoco Prairie SNA Rough Blazing Star ‘Liatris aspera’ w/ Brown Katydid (?) ‘Neoconocephalus ensuger’ |
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Blazing Star, Rough |
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Blazing Star, Rough Liatris aspera w/Hesperia leonardus Leonard’s Skipper |
Blazing Star, Rough w/Regal Fritillary |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
Liatris aspera ROUGH BLAZING STAR |
L. aspera |
About
Rough Blazing Star |
Wildflower Rough Blazing Star 6.2010.wmv |
About
Uploaded on Jun 25, 2010 Macro photography of rough blazing stars, butterflies, bumble bees, and more - - all captured on location at the WARD Ranch in Southern Oklahoma. |
Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
Button Blazingstar - Liatris aspera |
About
Uploaded on Aug 25, 2011 Earthyman views Button Blazingstar also known as Rough Blazingstar (Liatris aspera) in bloom at Ion Exchange native seed and plant nursery in NE Iowa http://www.ionxchange.com |
Butterflies on Liatris aspera |
About
Uploaded on Sep 24, 2011 There must be 30 butterflies, mostly skippers, on this one rough blazing star plant! Early September 2011. |
Monarch Butterflies on Blazing Star |
About
Uploaded on Nov 25, 2011 This video was taken in my specially designed garden, a gift from my dear daughter, as we started learning about the magic of planting native species for wildlife benefits. This video showcases the Meadow Blazing Star / Rough Blazing Star (Liatris Aspera). This plant alone can attract hundreds of Monarch butterflies to your garden in late August. Sadly I lost this plant and I'm looking to replace it. If you are in the Toronto Area and have a source, plant or seed, please leave a comment below. Enjoy this video and I encourage you to look for this magnificent plant that will bring hours of delight to your life. |
Monarch Butterfly and Liatris |
About
Uploaded on Aug 24, 2011 Monarch butterfly feeding on Rough Blazing Star Liatris 082111 |
Visitor Sightings |
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This button not working for you? |
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Dan W. Andree |
Location: MN SNA, Norman Co. Mn. I only seen 2 like this out of thousands of them blooming. A soldier beetle was on it. |
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Nancy Falkum |
Location: Oronoco Prairie SNA Buckeye ‘Junonia coenia’ on Rough Blazing Star ‘Liatris aspera’ |
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| Nancy Falkum 9/18/2021 |
Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
Created: 8/28/2004 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |