Minnesota Seasons - rough blazing star

Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy

Overview

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. Not all taxonomic authorities recognize the 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
		Sources 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.
2/2/2025


Taxonomy
Kingdom	Plantae (green algae and land plants)
Subkingdom	Viridiplantae (green plants)
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)
Superdivision	Embryophyta (land plants)
Division	Tracheophyta (vascular plants)
Subdivision	Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants)
Class	Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)
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
rough blazing star (Liatris aspera var. aspera) rough blazing star (Liatris aspera var. intermedia)

Synonyms
Lacinaria aspera Lacinaria squarrosa var. intermedia Liatris aspera var. salutans

Common Names
lacerate blazing star rough blazing star rough gayfeather tall blazing star tall gayfeather


Visitor Photos

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Nancy Falkum

Oronoco Prairie SNA Buckeye ‘Junonia coenia’ on Rough Blazing Star ‘Liatris aspera’


Oronoco Prairie SNA Rough Blazing Star ‘Liatris aspera’ w/ Brown Katydid (?) ‘Neoconocephalus ensuger’


		Blazing Star, Rough


Blazing Star, Rough Liatris aspera w/Hesperia leonardus Leonard’s Skipper		Blazing Star, Rough w/Regal Fritillary


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

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Slideshows

Liatris aspera ROUGH BLAZING STAR
Frank Mayfield

L. aspera
Joshua Mayer

About

Rough Blazing Star

Wildflower Rough Blazing Star 6.2010.wmv
jmoward

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.

slideshow


Visitor Videos

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Other Videos

Button Blazingstar - Liatris aspera
Ionxchange

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
inwig

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
Ani L-R

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
jimrookphotos

About

Uploaded on Aug 24, 2011

Monarch butterfly feeding on Rough Blazing Star Liatris 082111

Camcorder


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