The perennial blazing star

This wildflower plant has dozens of tiny purple flowers growing around one or more of the plant's tall stems. This flower is named blazing star. The stems of the flower I photographed here were more than 4 feet tall; it was growing in a low area near a woods.

The blazing star blooms in summer. A close look at the stems shows the tiny flowers bloom first at the top end of the stalk and as they are pollinated and "go to seed," other flowers bloom in succession on down the stalk. In this way seed is made over a longer period of time, better assuring that seed will be produced.

Note the tiny curved sword-like leaves extending beyond the tiny flower buds. This flower is native to much of eastern North America. The blazing star is a perennial plant.