I love the alternative name for this plant -- Gayfeather -- because the flowers look feathery.  These blooms, unconventionally, open from the top down.
 
     A popular garden plant, Blazing Star's flower heads appear on top of rigid stalks with grass-like foliage.  It is native to sunny, moist meadows and swamp banks.
 
     Blazing Star is low-maintenance and also makes a great cut flower.  It attracts songbirds, hummingbirds, bumblebees, butterflies and moths.