Upright North American prairie native with grassy foliage and dense bottlebrush spikes of magenta or white flowers opening from the top down — unusual among spike flowers.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 3–9 | −40 °C to −1.1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 3–8 | −34 °C to −1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–6 | −10 °C to 15 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Flowers July–August — peak high summer marker in the prairie planting tradition
- Flowers open from the top of the spike downwards (most spike flowers do the opposite) — useful identification mark
- Outstanding nectar source for butterflies and bees
- Drought tolerant once established, but tolerates moist soils too — adaptable
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Blazing star (Gayfeather) against your zones