Buzzworthy Blooms in Our Native Gardens This Week

July 10, 2025| Education, Environment

By: Laurie Kane

With summer in full swing, our native gardens at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation are bursting with the blooms of many native plants. One of the most striking is dense blazing star (Liatris spicata), also known as gayfeather, a tall perennial with electric purple flower spikes that bloom in July and August, drawing hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. This plant serves as a host for several species of small moths, and its nectar is especially valuable to bumblebees and other beneficial pollinators. Traditionally, some Native American groups used the roots in teas and poultices to treat ailments such as sore throats, kidney and heart issues, swelling, and snake bites.

Dense blazing star is easy to grow in full sun, reaching up to three feet tall. While it prefers moist soil, it will tolerate drier conditions and is considered deer resistant. With its grass-like foliage and upright flower stalks that bloom from the top down, it makes a beautiful vertical accent in borders. The spiky flower stems are excellent as cut flowers, fresh or dried, and if left standing in the garden, they provide seeds for birds and add visual interest to the winter landscape.

We invite you to visit the native gardens at our offices at 125 Landing Road in Landing to see the many colorful varieties now in bloom. Native plants support pollinators and help the environment in countless ways, and we hope you’ll be inspired to add some of these beneficial species to your own yard or garden.