Also grown under the name Gay Feather or Blazing Star. The spikes may look like feathers but are a quite robust 1-2 feet tall. They flower blue, purple or white. I prefer a compact form like Kobold which requires no staking.
Gardenerstips on Liatris spicata
- Plant 4-6 inches apart in clumps of at least 10 bulbs for maximum impact. These wer planted singly and are just bulking up.
- The soil must be well drained over winter to stop the bulbs from rotting.
- Fully frost hardy
- Full sun to part shade Liatris species are used as food plants by butterfly and are magnets for insects particularly in late summer.
- Good for cut flowers and drying
- As a general rule divide a plant furthest away from its bloom time. So I would divide liatris in spring.
I really enjoyed reading through your site! I’m also very interested in environmenal gardening.
It’s very good to grow flowers and other plants which insects and butterlies rely on, as a lot of wild nature has disappeared these past few decades when towns and suburbs have grown in size.
I will come back and read more!
/Monica (from Gothenburg in Sweden)