Common name: Blazing Star, Gayfeather
Family: Asteraceae, Aster
Height x width: 18-36" x 12-24"
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: alternate, lower leaves broad lanceolate to 1" across and 5" long, upper leaves smaller
Flowers: 25-50 flower heads of disc flowers only in tight spike or raceme, each flower up to 1" across, inflorescence opening from the top downwards (basipetally) unlike most spike flowers, mid to late summer; rose, lavender or white
Hardiness: zones 3-9
Soil: well-drained except spicata which prefers moist to damp
Light: sun, tolerates light shade in south
Pests and problems: root and crown rot especially if too wet for most species, leaf spots, rusts, root-knot nematode in South, mites
Landscape habit, uses: singly or scattered through border for vertical effect, cut flower, stream or water side for spicata
Other interest: native to North America
Other culture: plants arise from corms, tubers or flattened rootstocks which are desirable to rodents; remove spent flowers at tip of the spike for prolonged bloom; when cutting don't remove too much foliage to ensure continued tuber development
Propagation: division in spring (leaving at least one "eye" per root piece, dust cut ends with fungicide to prevent rot), seed (9,500 seeds per ounce)
Species:
aspera (ass' pear-ah)-- Rough Gayfeather, zones 3-9, 3-4', rough hairy throughout, well-spaced rounded lavender flowers in 8" spike, later than most species, liked by birds, native to central U.S. north to south
calilepis:spicata
cylindracea (si-lin-draa' cee-ah)-- zones 4-9, native to central U.S., 18-24", purple to white loose inflorescence in late summer
ligulistylis (li-gue-li-stiil' is)-- zones 3-9, native to west central U.S. and Canadian plains, 18-24", purple flowers in loose spike in late summer to fall
microcephala (mii-cro-ce' fah-lah)-- zones 6-9, native to So. Appalachian mountains, 18-24", multi-stemmed, narrow and grass-like leaves, flowers rose-purple
punctata (punk-tah' tah)--Snakeroot, zones 3-9, native to eastern U.S. to New Mexico, 24-30", purple flowers in dense spike 12" long in late summer
pycnostachya (pic-no-staa' cee-yah)--Kansas Gayfeather, zones 3-9, native to central U.S. north to south, 3-5', mauve flowers in summer with leafy bracts under in 12" long spike, requires staking and moist but well-drained soil
scariosa (scare-ee-o' sah)--Tall Gayfeather, zones 3-9, native to S.E. U.S., 24-30" or taller for some cultivars, usually densely pubescent leaves and to 2" wide, white to purple flowers in mid-summer
spicata (spi-caa' tah)--Spike Gayfeather, Button Snakewort, usual
species of commerce, zones 3-9, 3-4', native to eastern U.S., mauve flowers
in summer in dense spike 18-24" long
Cultivars:
| Cultivars | species | flowers | other |
| 'Alba' | pycnostachya | creamy white | |
| 'Alba' | spicata | white | |
| 'Floristan Violet' | spicata | dark purple | |
| 'Floristan White' | spicata | white | |
| 'Gnome':'Kobold' | |||
| 'Goblin':'Kobold' | |||
| 'Kobold' | spicata | lilac-mauve | early, multiple spikes |
| 'Picador' | spicata | purple to white | variable from seed |
| 'September Glory' | scariosa | purple | most open at same time |
| 'Silvertips' | spicata | lavender, silver tint | |
| 'White Spire' | scariosa | white | most open at same time |
©Authored by Dr. Leonard Perry, Professor, University of Vermont as part of PSS123 course.
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