Life cycle: Perennial
Also called "cattail gayfeather," prairie blazing star is native to the central US and more broadly the Mississippi River Valley region. It is a very popular native plant that has beautiful purple flower spikes which are beloved by butterflies, other insects, and hummingbirds.
Plants reach four feet tall and one foot wide. The showy purple blooms generally last from July through September.
Our seed comes from our friend Bonnie in Winona, Minnesota, who is a talented forager and wildcrafter, and very familiar with the flora of the Driftless region. This seed was harvested wild in the Winona area.
GROWING TIPS: Cold/moist stratify the seeds for 60 days, or fall sow. The plants prefer wet to medium soil and full-to-part sun.