The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: tall blazing-star, rough gayfeather

Family: Asteraceae (aster, daisy, sunflower family)

Distribution: e. North America

Habitat: Prairies, barrens, old fields, sand dunes, ridges, fields, stream bottoms, sandstone outcrops, limestone ridges, hills, oak, oak-juniper, and oak-pine woodlands, jack pine, sand, silt loam; 50–500(–900) m

Life form: Geophyte (bulb, corm or tuber)

Usage: Ornamental

Comments: This upright, clump-forming, native perennial typically grows 2-3' tall and commonly occurs in dryish soils on prairies, open woods, glades, meadows and along roads and railroad tracks. Features rounded, fluffy, deep rose-purple flower heads which are crowded into long, terminal flower spikes atop erect, leafy flower stalks. Stalks arise from basal tufts of rough, very narrow leaves. Flowers open somewhat at the same time, which makes this species a particularly good fresh cut flower for floral arrangements. Blooms in late summer to fall.