Pot Size: 1 gallon
Gayfeather (aka Blazing Star), is a clump-forming perennial that typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall. In NC it is found in the coastal and Piedmont areas. The tall spikes of flowers bloom from the top down, are showy and attract pollinators. The foliage is grass-like and grows in clumps. Plant prefers average to moist, well-drained soils that range from acidic to neutral in pH. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and also tolerates summer heat and humidity. This particular species does better in moist soils than some other blazing stars. The plant has corms with shallow fibrous roots and can produce new colonies from its corms, though it most often propagates by seed. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.
👉For more information visit NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Pot Size: 1 gallon
Gayfeather (aka Blazing Star), is a clump-forming perennial that typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall. In NC it is found in the coastal and Piedmont areas. The tall spikes of flowers bloom from the top down, are showy and attract pollinators. The foliage is grass-like and grows in clumps. Plant prefers average to moist, well-drained soils that range from acidic to neutral in pH. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and also tolerates summer heat and humidity. This particular species does better in moist soils than some other blazing stars. The plant has corms with shallow fibrous roots and can produce new colonies from its corms, though it most often propagates by seed. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.
👉For more information visit NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Light Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Moisture: Medium - Moist
Mature Height: 3 - 6 ft.
Mature Width: 3 in. - 1.5 ft.
Photo Credits:
1 - Hedwig Storch CC BY-SA 3.0
2 - Flowers in a spike Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
3 - Bumble bee sipping nectar from the flowers Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
