A carefree native perennial that belongs in every sunny garden, Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) is too uncommonly found in today’s landscapes. A butterfly magnet that blooms all summer, it is carefree and lovely. Make it part of your next garden planting.

‘Kobold Original’ is a fine selection of Blazing Star, sporting long, flower-packed stems that open gradually over a period of several weeks. The top blooms open first, working their way down the stem as butterflies and other pollinators visit to sip the sweet nectar. These flowers are a brilliant rosy purple, standing out nicely above the neat rosette of foliage.

Just 14 inches high out of bloom and no more than 2 feet with the addition of its imposing flower stalks, ‘Kobold Original’ Blazing Star can be squeezed into crowded borders to brilliant effect. It stretches less than a foot wide, and its impact is far greater than the amount of space it occupies. Fond of sunshine