Rough Blazing Stars are Monarch Magnets

[GBMonarch]

If you live in a zone that can grow them, Rough Blazing Stars are just amazing at attracting Monarchs.
I know they are native to the Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois prairies, but there are probably more states where they grow. The plants can be purchased at retail outlets that carry native plants.

I have several of them and it never ceases to amaze me when I go out and see 4, 5, even 6 Monarchs on a blooming plant.

Rough blazing star.jpg (2.63 KiB) Viewed 2868 times

[Mona Miller]

http://www.easywildflowers.com/quality/lia.asper.htm
Here's more information.

I have Liatris, several different varieties. But, there are no Monarchs using them.

[Paul Cherubini]

I'm still confused about how to identify which species of Liatris attracts Monarchs.

In Minnesota this is the Liatris that attracts Monarchs:
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae78 ... iatris.jpg
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae78 ... atrisb.jpg

But what species are these? I don't think they look too much like Liatris aspera according to the photos shown on the USDA website http://tinyurl.com/28jw7ew
They look more like Liatris spicata, but spicata doesn't occur in Minnesota according to the USDA spicata distribution map. So I'm really confused.

[blazing star]

Mona,

Liatris liqulistylis is the monarch magnet. Two years ago I planted on plant to see if it would like my soil and I had 11 monarchs on one plant. I planted more but with the population decline, have only seen one or two on the plants this year. With the exception of Connecticut, it's not native east of Illinois/Wisconsin. I don't know, if planted in your area, if it would become a nuisance in wild lands near you.

[SammyG]

I had a bunch blooming earlier this summer, but by the time the monarchs arrived (for me, in August), the blooms had all faded! I'm not sure if that was just their schedule or if the summer was just too hot for 'em!

[Mona Miller]

Plants have been blooming 2-3 weeks early this year. It has been too hot for people, plants, and butterflies.