Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Kobold Blazing Star: Native Purple Wands for the Lavender Border
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Kobold blazing star is a compact form of our native dense blazing star, Liatris spicata, and one of the best for borders. Its bottlebrush wands of small, fuzzy, rosy lavender-purple florets open from the top down, so the tips glow first. Multiple wands rise on stiff, sturdy stems from a clump of narrow, grassy leaves, about 1½ to 2½ feet tall.
It is also sold as 'Goblin', the English translation of its name. A goblin that bees adore is about as friendly as goblins get.
Kobold at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Liatris spicata 'Kobold' |
| Flowers | Rosy lavender-purple wands, opening top down |
| Foliage | Narrow, grass-like, mid-green |
| Size | 18 to 30 inches tall, 12 to 16 inches wide |
| Bloom | Late June into July, peaking mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3-9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for bees and butterflies; moderately deer resistant |
Spikes that speak lavender's language
Kobold's upright wands echo lavender's spiky shape, and its rosy purple sits right in lavender's color family, so the two read as one planting. Blazing star adds a little more height, which makes it a natural second row behind lavender, and it blooms through midsummer as lavender peaks. Both feed the same bees and butterflies, so a bed of the two is busy all July.
Because it is compact and rarely needs staking, it also works at the front of a native or pollinator border. Plan the rows in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun in average, well-drained soil. It tolerates poor soil and some drought once settled.
- Winter drainage: the corms overwinter reliably as long as the soil does not stay waterlogged.
- Heat: very heat tolerant; flowers hold up in full summer sun.
- Critters: voles and rabbits may eat the corms and young shoots. Deer seldom do serious damage.
- Fall: cut stems back, or leave spent spikes standing for finches and trim them in spring.
A top-rated cut and dried flower
Kobold is rated excellent as a cut flower and good for drying. Cut stems when the top florets have opened; the rest will continue in the vase. To dry, hang small bundles upside down in a dark, airy spot, just as you would lavender. The two together make a long-lasting purple arrangement. Plan a cutting row with the Cut Flower Planner.
Planting from bare root
Kobold is offered as a bare root plant, which for blazing star means a corm. Plant it with the pointed side up, a couple of inches deep, in well-drained soil, and water until shoots appear. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kobold the same as Goblin?
Yes. 'Goblin' is the English translation of 'Kobold', and both names are used for this plant.
Why did my blazing star not come back?
Wet winter soil or hungry voles are the usual causes. Choose a well-drained spot.
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