Pollinator plant

Dense blazing star

Liatris spicata

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Common names

36 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Blazing Star[1]
  • Blazing Stars[1]
  • button snakewort[4]
+15 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (14)
Dutch
  • Lampenpoetser
  • Prachtkaars
French
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • šuškarda klasnatá[3]
Finnish
  • noropunatähkä[3]
German
Hebrew
  • ליאטריס[3]
Japanese
  • キリンギク[3]
Korean
  • 기린국화[3]
  • 리아트리스 스피카타[3]
Polish
  • Liatra kłosowa[3]
Russian
  • Лиатрис колосистая[3]
Slovak
  • liatra klasnatá[3]
Swedish
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Liatris spicata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Dense Blazing Star — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Blazing Star — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Blazing Stars — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Dense Button Snakeroot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Gayfeather — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Marsh Blazing Star — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Sessile-headed Blazing Star — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Snakeroot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(8); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
  • Spike Gayfeather — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(9); heading: Common Name(s):; Liatris spicata.
[2] Liatris spicata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • dense blazing star — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • Prachtscharte — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • dense gayfeather — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • florist gayfeather — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh blazing star — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh blazing-star — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh blazingstar — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh gayfeather — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • prairie gay feather — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • purple gayfeather — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • sessile blazing star — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • sessile-headed blazing star — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • liatris à épi — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
[3] Liatris spicata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • dense blazing star — results[4].names[1]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • Prachtscharte — results[4].names[11]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • dense gayfeather — results[4].names[18]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • florist gayfeather — results[4].names[5]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh blazing star — results[4].names[4]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh blazing-star — results[4].names[22]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh blazingstar — results[4].names[6]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • marsh gayfeather — results[4].names[19]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • prairie gay feather — results[4].names[2]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • purple gayfeather — results[4].names[10]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • sessile blazing star — results[4].names[20]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • sessile-headed blazing star — results[4].names[21]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • liatris à épi — results[4].names[3]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • noropunatähkä — results[4].names[7]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • šuškarda klasnatá — results[4].names[8]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • キリンギク — results[4].names[9]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • 麒麟菊 — results[4].names[12]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • 蛇鞭菊 — results[4].names[13]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • 蛇鞭菊 — results[4].names[14]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • 麒麟菊 — results[4].names[15]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • rosenstav — results[4].names[16]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • Лиатрис колосистая — results[4].names[17]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • Liatra kłosowa — results[4].names[23]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • 기린국화 — results[4].names[24]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • 리아트리스 스피카타 — results[4].names[25]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • ליאטריס — results[4].names[26]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
  • liatra klasnatá — results[4].names[27]; taxon id 117439; Liatris spicata.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • button snakewort — Page 4, column 1, row top 532 pt; common-name cell after Liatris spicata.; Liatris spicata.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Asteraceae

The complete-name usages checked in Catalogue of Life agree on this family; authorship and accepted-name identity remain unresolved.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Liatris spicata.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.08–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Liatris spicata in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
E. Canada to NC. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Liatris spicata — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2497666; ID 728LS; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Liatris spicata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Liatris spicata (top 532 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Liatris spicata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 280210; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1505094, 1505095, 1505096, 1505097, 1505098, 1505099, 1505100, 1505101, 1505102, 1505103, 1505104, 1505105, 1505106, 1505107, 1505109, 1505110, 1505111, 1505112, 1505113, 1505114, 1505115, 1505116, 1505117, 1505118, 1505119, 1505120, 1505121, 1505122, 1505123, 1505124, 1505125, 1505126, 1505127

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.