Liatris is an easy care perennial flower, producing colorful spikes of flowers that hummingbirds, butterflies and bees adore. Liatris is also known as Blazing Star and Gray Feather, and reproduces on its own via underground corms or bloom seeds.
Table of Contents
Liatris are native plants in many regions and are not too fussy about their planting environment. However, for the best overall growing results, plant the seeds or corms in a sunny location and soil that drains well.
The seeds or corms of liatris can be planted into prepared soil either in the spring or fall. Plant the seeds or corms eight inches apart and two inches deep and water in well.
Most varieties of liatris are tall growing, often reaching heights of five feet. The plants are proficient bloomers that will re-seed themselves (if the blooms are allowed to remain on the plants) and fill up a landscape location within a few growing seasons.
Liatris will produce long lasting blooms once per season when growing uncultivated; removing the spent flower spikes after the first blooming will enable the plants to produce a second round of blooms each season.
The liatris blooms are fragrant and resemble the shape of a baby bottle brush, producing a multitude of small flowers along a spike at the top of the plants. The bloom colors range from purple, to pinks and white, and provide long lasting, fresh cut flowers. The liatris blooms also dry easily for use in dried floral arrangements and the plant’s petals are often used in potpourri mixtures.
The abundance of fragrant flower produced by the liatris attracts a variety of wildlife all season. The summer blooms attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. In the fall, the liatris produces a seed pod (if the blooms are left intact on the plant) that attracts a wide array of hungry birds looking for a meal.
There are many varieties of liatris that will not reach a mature height of five feet and better adapted for growing in containers or when planted in borders. Some varieties of liatris also grow best when they are planted in a wet location (some native liatris are swamp-growers). Read plant labels or seed packet labels to ensure the right liatris choice for growing in containers, borders or rain gardens.
Liatris offers a lot of flower power for little effort. It’s fragrant, expanding beauty will come back year after year and last for months to provide fresh cut flowers and attract wildlife.
Most homeowners have probably spent hours looking at the different types of garden seeders. You may have even come across…
When it comes to vehicle lovers, cleaning their cars on a regular basis is essential to maintaining the paint job's…
Gas chainsaws are the perfect tool for a variety of outdoor tasks, including chopping up logs for firewood, clearing brush…
A home can be a daunting project, one that takes some time and energy to maintain. With hard work, determination,…
Today ginger is grown all over tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, in parts of Africa and South America, and…
Onions are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and growing onions is a snap in the home…