Giant Blazingstar | Mentzelia Laevicaulis

Stunning, beautiful AND scented! Because of its large, showy flowers, the whitish bark and the height, mentzelia laevicaulis is a distinctive and easily-recognized plant. The star-like flowers can measure up to 5 inches across, composed of five tapered petals and a cluster of equally-long stamens, plus five narrow sepals, arranged between the petals. Underneath are shorter, greenish yellow bracts, curving downwards. The plant produces short branches, each topped by a flower, but grows mostly upwards rather than sideways.
Taprooted herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial flowering yellow to 4 feet tall, native to the Western US and Canada. The flowers are extremely showy, on a spiny and skeletal plant, and are well-loved by native bees, hawkmoths and hummingbirds. The flowering period is midsummer, and they are SPECTACULAR! This plant can be a centerpiece by itself. Flowers open at dusk and remain open overnight and into early morning before closing for the afternoon. This plant is difficult to transplant due to its taproot and barbed leaves. No serious pest or disease issues.
Traditional usage: roots used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, earache, fever, smallpox. Chewing on roots prevents thirst. External application of crushed plant to treat bruises & swellings. 
Plant prefers full sun and rocky, dry sites. Sow seed in fall to early winter for germination in spring, or give 60 days moist refrigeration and sow outside. Plants normally do not grow quickly until the soil warms up in summer. Space plants 3 feet apart. 
~50 organically grown seeds per packet, open-pollinated, untreated, non-gmo.