Liatris for Cut Flowers and Butterfly Food

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.

Liatris 2

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.

Liatris

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.
Liatris

One thought on “Liatris for Cut Flowers and Butterfly Food

  1. 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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