Liatris pycnostachya 'Lavender Glowsticks' is a seed strain selection of the native prairie blazing star that earns its cultivar name honestly. The lavender-purple flower spikes account for more than half the plant's four-foot height, meaning you're looking at roughly two feet of fuzzy, bottlebrush bloom on every stalk. That's a lot of flower per plant. The blooms open from the top down — the opposite of most spike-form perennials — giving the display a lit-fuse quality as color works its way toward the base through early and midsummer. This is a prairie plant, and it performs like one. Full sun and well-drained soil are the baseline requirements, but 'Lavender Glowsticks' also handles clay, poor fertility, drought, heat, and humidity without complaint. Hardy in Zones 3 through 9, it spreads to about two feet from tuberous roots that can be lifted and divided every few years. The dried seed heads carry interest into winter, and the vertical form pairs well with mounding companions like coneflowers, Shasta daisies, or ornamental grasses. It also makes a reliable cut flower. Taller specimens may benefit from staking in exposed sites. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all work the flowers heavily, while deer tend to pass it by — a useful combination for anyone designing pollinator or naturalized plantings. The species name pycnostachya comes from the Greek for "crowded," a nod to the densely packed flower heads and leaves that define the genus. Walters Gardens selected this strain for its tall stalks and extended bloom period, making it a strong candidate for prairie-style gardens, borders, or anywhere a vertical accent needs to pull its weight. Photo Credit: Walters Gardens
