Liatris for Cut Flowers and Butterfly Food
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
- Liatris are long lasting, excellent border and cut flowers
- Liatris scaricosa, spitica , aspera and punctata are some of the species to consider.
- Plant 4-6 inches apart in clumps of at least 10 bulbs for maximum impact. These were 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.
Propagation from Seed
Sow February to July in trays, pots, etc of good seed compost in a propagator or warm place to maintain an optimum temperature of 70-75F (20-25C). Sow in well drained compost, just covering the seed with compost. Reduce the soil temperature at night during germination.
One thought on “Liatris for Cut Flowers and Butterfly Food”
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)
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