Kobold Blazing Star
Liatris spicata 'Kobold'
flowerKobold is a compact form of the native dense blazing star (Liatris spicata), staying around 2 to 2.5 ft instead of the species 4 to 5 ft. It grows from an underground corm and sends up stiff spikes packed with fuzzy rose-purple flower heads that open from the top down - the reverse of most spike flowers - over several weeks in mid to late summer. The grassy foliage and vertical spikes add prairie structure, and the nectar-rich blooms are a documented favorite of monarchs and other butterflies, as well as bumblebees and goldfinches that later eat the seed.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Bloom
~90 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
12-15 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Corm 2-4 in. deep
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 9
When to Fertilize
None needed in average soil
Fertilizer
None; compost at planting if poor
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant Liatris corms or potted plants in full sun and average, well-drained soil; it tolerates poor and dry soil but rots in wet, especially in winter. Set corms 2 to 4 in. deep and space plants 12 to 15 in. apart. It is very low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, needs no fertilizer in average soil, and rarely needs staking at the compact Kobold height. Leave the spent spikes for goldfinches, which relish the seed. Clumps can be divided in spring every few years.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 1
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Projected first bloom
Jun 30
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Purple Coneflower — Prairie partner with overlapping summer bloom and the same lean, sunny needs
- Black-Eyed Susan — Gold daisies contrast the purple spikes and feed the same butterflies
- Bee Balm — Adds hummingbird appeal to the midsummer pollinator border
- Moonbeam Coreopsis — Soft-yellow froth at the base of the vertical Liatris spikes
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Give plants full sun and airflow and avoid overhead watering; remove and destroy rust-spotted foliage
Space for air circulation and clean up debris; leaf spots are cosmetic and rarely serious
Voles eat the corms and rabbits nibble shoots - use hardware-cloth baskets for corms or repellents where rodent pressure is high
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Blazing Star is a superb cut and dried flower. For fresh use, cut spikes when the top third of the florets have opened, in the cool morning; the spike continues opening downward in the vase. For drying, cut at the same stage and hang upside down in a warm, dark, airy spot - it holds its purple color well. In the garden, leave some spikes to set seed for goldfinches and to self-sow.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Liatris is a top-tier butterfly plant: the nectar-rich spikes are a documented favorite of monarchs and many other butterflies and are heavily worked by bumblebees and other native bees. After bloom, the seed heads feed goldfinches and other small birds. As a long-lived native prairie plant, it delivers high pollinator value with almost no care.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.