Bloomipedia
Dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata)
Photo: Mark G via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Dotted gayfeather

Liatris punctata

Dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly August–October across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Dotted gayfeather is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in August–October.

20states where USDA records it
7Bloomipedia state lists include it
13,449U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota

Quick look

Liatris punctata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names dotted gayfeather, dotted blazingstar, and narrow-leaved blazingstar. It is native to North America, where it occurs throughout the plains of central Canada, the central United States, and northern Mexico.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 20 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 4,740 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #23 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 568 research-grade sightings of it in Oklahoma, ranking #57 among the 159 flowers on our Oklahoma list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 555 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #79 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (663 records)
Bloom time in the 7 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJuly–September4,740
OklahomaNativefew records (27)568
MontanaNativefew records (16)555
KansasNativefew records (17)461
North DakotaNativefew records (48)379
South DakotaNativefew records (17)341
NebraskaNativefew records (10)226

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oklahoma.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Kansas.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: LA (S1), MI (SX). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records dotted gayfeather in 20 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Baca, Bent, Boulder, Cheyenne, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Jefferson, Kit Carson, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Otero, Pueblo, Saguache, Sedgwick, Teller, Washington, Weld, Yuma.

Oklahoma counties with USDA records: Alfalfa, Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Carter, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Creek, Custer, Ellis, Garfield, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Haskell, Jackson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, Murray, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Osage, Payne, Pittsburg, Roger Mills, Rogers, Stephens, Texas, Tulsa, Woods.

Montana counties with USDA records: Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fergus, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, McCone, Meagher, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Dotted gayfeather a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.8 and winter lows down to -43 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.0 to 7.8
Minimum temperature tolerated
-43 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
120
Annual precipitation range
18 to 26 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
container, corm, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for LIPU. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 579 counties across 19 states; the most are in Texas (129), Kansas (98), Nebraska (54).

Other Liatris on Bloomipedia (4): Rough blazing star, Prairie blazing star, Scaly blazing star, Rocky Mountain blazing star.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Colorado flowers

Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)

Rubber rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: August–October
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–September
Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)

Musk thistle

Carduus nutans

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–September

Sources