What's eating my texas blazing star?

Texas Blazing Star (Liatris mucronata) is a tough, narrow-leaved Liatris native to the Texas Hill Country and surrounding dry prairies. Like other blazing stars, aphids are the most common pest on flower spikes. Papaipema borers can damage the corm. Deer browse flower spikes in late summer. Its drought adaptations make it highly resilient; pest problems are generally minor.

Yellow-green or black clusters on stem tips and flower buds; honeydew and sooty mold; flowers may not open fully Spray with water to knock off colonies; apply insecticidal soap if infestation persists; predatory insects generally keep numbers in check outdoors

Individual stems wilt and die while others remain healthy; borer larvae found in crown tissue when stems are cut open Cut and destroy affected stems promptly; plant in sharply drained soil to discourage crown-moisture conditions borers prefer; no effective systemic chemical control

Late-summer flower spikes nibbled or completely removed before or during bloom Deer repellent spray reapplied every 2–4 weeks; wire exclosures for specimen plants; established plants with strong corms will re-bloom the following year