How big does Blazing star grow?

About 90 cm × 40 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.6–1.2 m × 25–45 cm.

What soil does Blazing star grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy.

Is Blazing star hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Blazing star flower?

Flowering: July–September, purple, pink, white.

How much water does Blazing star need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Blazing star cost?

It sells for roughly HUF 1,600 to HUF 3,100 in local shops, depending on size.

Blazing star

Liatris spicata

Blazing star (Liatris spicata) is a perennial that reaches 90 cm × 40 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about HUF 1,600.

Illustration of Blazing star — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A cormous perennial that sends stiff, upright stems out of a tuft of grassy leaves, with purple, pink or white bottlebrush spikes that open from the top down in midsummer. Butterflies and bees love it, it is excellent as a cut or dried flower, and it takes heat well. Plant it in sun in soil that stays fresh yet drains freely: once established it tolerates shorter dry spells, but it needs watering in prolonged drought and rots in winter wet.

Watch out for

The corms rot in wet, compacted soil over winter, in which case the plant simply fails to emerge in spring. Voles and other rodents readily eat the corms, and slugs graze the young shoots in spring. Stems of taller forms may flop in rich soil or with too little sun. In the dry, hot summers of Central Europe the lower leaves wither and flowering is cut short without watering.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 90 cm × 40 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D July–September, purple, pink, white

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	90 cm × 40 cm
Ultimate size	0.6–1.2 m × 25–45 cm
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	July–September, purple, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	30 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about HUF 1,600

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
bulb or tuber	approx. HUF 2,000
size not stated	approx. HUF 1,600 – HUF 3,100

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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