Plant Preference/Growing Conditions:

Button Blazing star is best grown in full sun and in dry, well-drained soils. They prefer acidic soils but are tolerant of most soil types except for rich or moist areas.

Growth Habit/Description:

Perineal that grows 2-5 feet tall. The stem leaves average 3 inches long, the lower stem leaves average 12 inches long. The leaves are covered in short hairs, giving them a rough texture, they're bluish grey colored. The leaves are alternate but appeared whorled due to their crowding. Stems are green with purple coloring. The seeds are brown, dry, and fluffy. Seeds follow after the flowering stage, and eventually blow off in the wind.

Bloom Season:

The flowers are 6-18 inch pink-purple inflorescences. Flower heads are around 1 inch and composed of 25-40 star-shaped florets. They start blooming at the top in late summer (July-October).

Fall and/or Winter Interest?

Yes.  Continues to bloom into October, and seeds are present after blooming.

Host Plant for Caterpillars?

Yes.  The button blazing star is a host plant for multiple flower moths, Schinia gloriosa and Schinia sanguinea.

Other Known Ecological Value?

Yes.   Bees, skippers, and butterflies such as Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Black Swallowtails, Sulfurs, etc., feed on and pollinate the rough blazing star. Rabbits, deer, and other rodents eat the stems and corms.

Origin of Name:  'Blazing star" comes from the star-shaped flowers. Aspera means rough and originates from the plant's rough appearance. Button comes from the flowers' button-like appearance.

Related Plant Species:  Rough Blazing Star is one of the latest bloomers of the Liatris genus. There are many other Liatris plants such as Liatris cylindracea (Dwarf Blazing Star), Liatris ligulistylis (Rocky Mountain Blazing Star), Liatris microcephala (Dwarf Blazing Star), Liatris punctata (Dotted Blazing Star), Liatris punctata var. mucronata (Texas Blazing Star), Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star), Liatris spicata 'Alba' (Gayfeather), Liatris spicata 'Floristan Violet' (Blazing Star), Liatris spicata 'Floristan Weiss' (Blazing Star), Liatris spicata 'Kobold' (Blazing Star), Liatris spicata (Blazing Star)

Use For Food/Medicine:

Histroically used by Indigenous groups for treatment of respiratory and digestive problems.

Gardenia.  c 2025. Compare:  Plants:  Liatris (Blazing Star).  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].   

  Available from:  https://www.gardenia.net/compare-plants/liatris

Benda, Christopher. Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera)  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].  

  Available from:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/liatris-aspera

New Moon Nursery.  c 2024.   Liatris aspera.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].   

  Available from:  https://newmoonnursery.com/nursery-plants/liatris-aspera/

Wheeler, Justin.  c 2017.  Plants for Pollinators:  Blazing Star.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].   

  Available from:  https://xerces.org/blog/plants-for-pollinators-blazingstar

Prairie Moon Nursery.  Seeds:  Liatris Aspera:  Button Blazing Star.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].   

  Available from:  https://www.prairiemoon.com/liatris-aspera-button-blazing-star#panel-descrip

Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois.  Rough Blazing Star:  Liatris aspera:  Aster family (Asteraceae).  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].   

  Available from:  https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/rgh_blazingstarx.htm

The Prairie Ecologist.  c 2016.  Liatris aspera, blazing star.  Lincoln Creek Prairie.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://prairieecologist.com/2016/11/09/photos-not-politics/liatris-aspera-blazing-star-lincoln-creek-prairie-3/

Prairie Restorations.  c 2025.  Liatris aspera.  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.prairieresto.com/plant/liatris-aspera/

Minnesota Wildflowers.  c 2006 - 2025.  Liatris asperaI (Rough Blazing Star).  [Cited 2025, Aug 8].

  Available from:  https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/rough-blazing-star