Images Depict Mature Plants
Kobold Blazing Star
Liatris spicata 'Kobold'
Kobold Blazing Star is a great choice when you want the upright purple flower spikes of Liatris in a more compact, easier-to-place plant. It brings butterflies into the garden, works well as a cut flower, and gives sunny borders a strong vertical accent without needing much room. Give it full sun, good drainage, and a little space to clump, and it becomes a dependable summer performer.
15% OFF SITEWIDE SUMMER SALE
Use Code HELLOSUMMER15 at Checkout!
📦 Free shipping on orders over $99.
Delay shipping by leaving us a message at Checkout.
Share:Recommended Add-Ons
A Compact Blazing Star with Purple Flower Spikes and Pollinator Power
Purple Flower Spikes on a Compact Upright Perennial
Kobold Blazing Star is a compact Liatris cultivar grown for its upright purple flower spikes, grassy green foliage, and strong summer garden presence. Its dense, bottlebrush-like blooms rise above neat clumps of narrow leaves, adding vertical color without taking up much space.
Compared with taller blazing star varieties, Kobold stays shorter and more manageable, making it easier to use near the front or middle of a sunny border. It brings the same classic Liatris look in a garden-friendly size that works well for homeowners who want structure, color, and pollinator activity in a tidy perennial.
Summer Blooms That Open from the Top Down
Kobold Liatris produces lavender-purple to rosy-purple flower spikes in summer, with small, fluffy blooms opening from the top of the spike downward. This unusual flowering pattern gives the plant a distinctive look and helps the blooms stand out in mixed perennial beds.
The flowers are excellent for cutting and can also be used in fresh arrangements that require an upright texture. In the garden, the purple spikes pair beautifully with yellow, white, orange, pink, and blue flowers, making Kobold an easy design partner for many sunny planting combinations.
Perfect for Sunny Borders, Containers, and Pollinator Gardens
Kobold Blazing Star is ideal for full sun perennial borders, pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, cottage gardens, containers, and native-style plantings. Its compact habit makes it especially useful where taller Liatris may be too large or likely to lean.
Use it in groups for the strongest effect, or repeat it through a border to create vertical rhythm. It pairs well with coneflowers, Black Eyed Susans, salvia, catmint, yarrow, coreopsis, ornamental grasses, bee balm, and asters. The narrow foliage also blends easily with other fine-textured or drought-tolerant perennials.
Deer Resistant, Pollinator Friendly, and Drought Tolerant Once Established
Kobold Blazing Star is valuable for pollinator gardens because its flowers attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial visitors. The upright blooms provide a strong nectar source during the summer season while also bringing ornamental color to the landscape.
This plant is generally considered deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established. It handles heat well and performs best in full sun with well-drained soil. While Liatris spicata can tolerate more moisture than some other blazing star species, good drainage remains important for long-term success, especially during winter.
Easy Care with Full Sun and Well-Drained Soil
Plant Kobold Blazing Star in full sun for the strongest stems, best flowering, and most compact habit. Average, sandy, loamy, or well-drained garden soil is suitable. Avoid planting in heavy, constantly wet soil where the roots may stay too damp.
Water regularly after planting until the roots establish, then reduce watering. Deadhead spent flower spikes if you want a tidier appearance, or leave seed heads standing for late-season texture. Cut old stems back in fall after frost or in early spring before new growth begins.
| Hardiness Zone: | 3-8 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 18 to 30 Inches |
| Mature Width: | 12 to 18 Inches |
| Sunlight: | Full sun; tolerates light shade, with best flowering in full sun |
| Soil | Average, sandy, loamy, or well-drained soil; tolerates moist soil but dislikes poor drainage |
| Water | Water regularly after planting; drought tolerant once established |
| Bloom Time / Color | Summer; lavender-purple to rosy-purple upright flower spikes |
| Ornamental Features | Compact habit, upright purple flower spikes, grassy foliage, vertical texture, cut flower value |
| Wildlife Value | Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, and beneficial pollinators |
| Resistance | Generally deer resistant; drought tolerant once established; heat tolerant; tolerant of moist soil with drainage |
| Landscape Uses | Sunny borders, pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, cottage gardens, containers, cut flower gardens, mass plantings, native-style beds |
How to Care for Kobold Blazing Star
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Kobold Blazing Star plant for years to come!
-v1744125337873.png?92x91){kind=icon}
How should I plant Kobold Blazing Star?
Plant Kobold Blazing Star in full sun with well-drained soil. Choose a location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for the strongest stems and best flowering. It can tolerate average garden soil and some moisture, but avoid sites that stay soggy for long periods. Dig a hole about as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, and water thoroughly. Space plants about 12–18 inches apart for a full planting or slightly farther apart in mixed perennial borders.
-v1744125341757.png?89x84){kind=icon}
How often should I water Kobold Blazing Star after planting?
Water Kobold Blazing Star deeply after planting, then keep the soil lightly moist while the roots establish. During the first growing season, water when the top few inches of soil feel dry, especially during hot or windy weather. Once established, Kobold Liatris is drought tolerant and usually needs little supplemental water in average garden soil. Water during extended dry spells, but avoid constantly wet soil, especially in winter.
-v1744125345680.png?90x89){kind=icon}
When should I fertilize Kobold Blazing Star?
Kobold Blazing Star usually needs little fertilizer. In average garden soil, a light spring application of compost or a mild slow-release fertilizer is enough to support healthy growth and flowering. Avoid heavy feeding, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizer. Too much fertility can encourage soft growth and reduce the sturdy upright habit that makes Kobold useful in borders and cut flower gardens.
When and how should I prune Kobold Blazing Star?
Prune Kobold Blazing Star by removing spent flower spikes after bloom if you want a cleaner look. Cut the faded stems back to the foliage or to a lower set of leaves. You can also leave seed heads standing for late-season texture and wildlife interest. In late fall after frost or in early spring before new growth appears, cut old stems back close to the ground.
