Wisconsin Prairies Blazing Star

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
In the Midwest Garden with Rob Zimmer on whb Y
is brought to you by Care Patrol local Senior Care Advisors.
Here's Rob with today's tip.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Now in August, many varieties of blazing stars are beginning
to reach their peak bloom season in prairies, grasslands, and
gardens throughout the Midwest. All this week in the Midwest Garden,
I'm talking about some of my favorite prairie blooming wildflowers
at their peak now in August. The many different blazing
stars or Leatris species are blooming now when Wisconsin in
prairies and prairie gardens. Up to forty different species of

(00:32):
Leatris have been documented, most of them found here in
the Midwest and various locations throughout the summer prairie bloom season.
The classic dense blazing star features tall, wand shaped spires
of densely packed purple blooms. All of the blazing stars
come in the same shade of light purple or lavender.
In garden centers, often a hybrid called cobald is sold.
This is similar to the dense blazing star Leatris spaccata.

(00:55):
There are also varieties sold at garden centers that are
white and color as well as light purple. One of
the most sought after varieties of blazing Star is meadow
blazing star. This particular species grows four to six feet
high with widely spaced, rounded clusters of purple blooms up
and down the stem. Rather than the thick, dense spike
of many of the blazing stars, this one forms more
of a wide poom. Meadow blazing Star is notable as

(01:18):
it has been shown to give off a pheromone that
mimics the monarch's breeding pheromone and attracts large numbers of
butterflies to its blooms during this peak season. Coincidentally, blooms
season of meadow blazing Star coincides with the start of
the monarch migration, ensuring healthy pollination and gathering. Monarch often
sold at garden centers that should be fairly easy to
pick up a few different varieties of blazing Stars to

(01:40):
add to your yard and garden. More to come on
Prairie Blooms and Prairie Beauty all this week in the Midwest.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Garden Looking for more tips in the Midwest Garden with
Rob Zimmer is available anytime at whby dot com and
brought to you by care Patrol local senior care advisors.
Find out more at carepatrol dot com