Smallhead blazing star
Liatris microcephala
Last reviewed: September 2026
Smallhead blazing star (Liatris microcephala) is a perennial forb native to AL, GA, KY, NC and 2 more states. It blooms in August and September. The flowers draw bees and butterflies.
Toxicity unknown
Smallhead blazing star (Liatris microcephala) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 8"–12" W
Bloom
Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, GA, KY, NC and 2 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A compact, wiry-stemmed blazing star with grassy foliage and slender spikes of small purple button flowers in late summer. Its small size and upright habit keep it tidy on dry rock outcrops and thin-soil slopes.
Growing Smallhead blazing star
Grow Smallhead blazing star in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 8 to 12 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Flower spikes are a magnet for bumble bees and late-season butterflies migrating south.
Common questions
- How much sun does Smallhead blazing star need?
- Smallhead blazing star grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Smallhead blazing star bloom?
- Smallhead blazing star blooms in August and September.
- Where is Smallhead blazing star native?
- Smallhead blazing star (Liatris microcephala) is native to AL, GA, KY, NC and 2 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Smallhead blazing star attract?
- Smallhead blazing star draws bees and butterflies.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Smallhead blazing star? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.