What's eating my cylindric blazing star?

Cylindric Blazing Star (Liatris cylindracea) is a small, dry-habitat native blazing star. Aphids on flower spikes are the most common pest encounter. Papaipema borers can tunnel into the small corm and kill individual stems. As a shorter species it is more accessible to rabbits. It is otherwise very tough in well-drained soils and rarely suffers serious pest damage.

Colonies on flower stems and buds; honeydew and sooty mold; reduced bloom quality Spray off with water; apply insecticidal soap if needed; plants recover fully once aphid pressure drops

Stems wilt from the inside out; cutting the stem reveals a larval tunnel; small corms may be killed entirely by heavy infestation Remove and destroy wilting stems before larvae pupate; plant in well-drained sites as wet crowns are more vulnerable; no effective in-stem chemical control

Clean-cut stems at or near ground level, particularly on this low-growing species during spring flush Wire mesh guards around plants in establishing years; rabbit repellent spray; plants often re-sprout from the corm if not repeatedly browsed