Moxie Gardener

Liatris are popular in perennial borders and as cut flowers.

Liatris are native to the eastern United States and west to the Great Plains. They have been exported to Europe and have become one of the most popular flowering plants cultivated to be sold in bouquets.

A Native American wildflower goes legit in the world of florists and cut flowers.

Liatris spicata is its Latin name; it is also commonly referred to as liatris, gayfeather and blazing star.

Liatris like full sun and will grow in average soil that is well drained. They are very drought tolerant and their roots need to grow free of standing water, especially during winter. Too much water at any time of the year will cause their roots to rot. They will tolerate light shade, but will produce fewer flowers.

They are easily started from seed or by root division. Divide plants every 3 to 4 years and replant the divided corms 9 to 18 inches apart, depending on the variety.

Seeds need a period of cold weather before they will germinate. Scatter them in your garden in late fall and many will germinate the following spring. You can also mix their seeds with damp sand in a plastic bag. Refrigerate the bag for a couple of months, then plant in a seed starting mixture. Keep them at temperatures of around 70°-75° until they germinate (in about 10 days to 2 weeks). After that, you can grow them on at temperatures in the upper 60’s.

Plant them outdoors in the garden after all danger of frost is past. Liatris that are started from seed will not bloom until their second year.

They have an unusual bloom habit. Rather than the flowers opening from the bottom up, as do most flowers born in clusters on spiky stems, liatris flowers open from the top down. You can cut off the top of one of the spikes and the flowers further down the stem will continue to open up in the garden.

Liatris will give you few problems, as long as they are spaced far enough apart and the soil they grow in is well-drained. If they grow too close together they are susceptible to powdery mildew. Remove affected leaves at the first sign of it; you may be able to ward off a full blown infection.

You’ll notice a large number of butterflies flocking to liatris. They are well-known as plants suitable for a butterfly garden. Birds, especially goldfinches, eat their ripened seeds in late summer and early fall.