All About Liatris

There are about 40 species of liatris, most native to the prairies and meadows of eastern and central North America. All are very similar in culture and growth habit, so pick plants that suit your preference of height and flower color.

How to Grow and Care for Liatris

‘Floristan Violet’ (Liatris spicata). Photo by: Proven Winners.

Included in our list of top perennials for a butterfly garden, blazing star (Liatris) is prized for its ability to attract all sorts of pollinating insects, especially monarchs, swallowtails, and other butterflies. In addition to its value to the ecosystem, this sun-loving wildflower also brings striking vertical form to the ornamental garden, sending up tall spires of vibrant rose-purple blooms during the dog days of summer, when most spring-flowering perennials are past their peak. And like many native plants, blazing stars are nearly invincible.

“Heat like you get in Houston, cold like you get in Minnesota, poor soil that won’t support a crop of weeds, and drought that leaves other plants gasping for water—nothing bothers this sturdy native American,” says Jeff Cox, author of Perennial All-Stars, a guide to some of the best plants for trouble-free gardens.

THE BASICS

Botanical name:

Common names:

Blazing star, gayfeather (because of its feathery flower plumes)

Plant type:

Zones:

Height:

1 to 5 feet, depending on the species

Exposure:

Grows best in full sun, but will tolerate light shade. (See more full-sun perennials.)

Bloom Time:

Mid to late summer

Color and characteristics:

Produces fuzzy florets of bright purple or white flowers that bloom from the top down on unbranched stems, giving them a unique bottlebrush effect. The slender, grass-like green foliage stays attractive all summer and deepens to bronze in the fall.

Varieties:

There are about 40 species of liatris, most native to the prairies and meadows of eastern and central North America. All are very similar in culture and growth habit, so pick plants that suit your preference of height and flower color.

PLANTING

What to plant:

You can grow blazing star from corms, seeds, potted nursery-grown plants or bare-root plants. Seeds and corms are the most economical choices, but you’ll need patience when planting seeds because it often takes a year or two before they produce blooms. When buying corms, pay attention to the size. Larger corms (at least 3 inches in diameter) will produce the most robust flowers.

When to plant:

Plant corms or tuberous roots in spring. Flowers usually appear 70 to 90 days after planting. Sow seeds directly outdoors in fall or early spring, or start them indoors in late winter 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date.

Soil:

Like most prairie plants, blazing star isn’t choosy about soil conditions and may grow too tall and flop over in soil that is overly fertile. The one essential is good drainage, especially in winter. The roots can rot if allowed to sit in wet soil.

Spacing:

To permit good air circulation, space plants at least a foot apart. Because of its strong vertical presence, blazing star looks best when planted in groupings of six or more rather than in row formation (unless they are part of a cutting garden).

CARE

Watering:

Water new plantings weekly in dry weather until a strong root system is established. Once plants have matured, they will tolerate dry spells because the corms naturally retain water. However, if you experience prolonged periods of drought during the heat of the summer, give your plants about an inch of water a week to keep them hydrated.

Maintenance:

Because blazing star blooms from the top down, you can pinch back the spent blossoms to prolong its beauty. After plants have finished blooming, the flower stalks can be cut back to their grassy basal leaves, or you can leave the stalks and seedheads in place until spring to provide vertical interest throughout the winter and a food source for local and migrating birds.

Dividing:

Divide clumps every few years, or as needed to prevent overcrowding. Dig up the plants in spring and cut the tuberous roots into sections with a sharp knife, making sure each section has one “eye” or bud. Plants will also readily self-sow if you don’t cut the flower stalks back in the fall.

Diseases and Pests:

Blazing stars are rarely troubled by insects or diseases, but the foliage can succumb to powdery mildew, especially in hot, humid weather. The problem can minimized by growing plants in full sun and providing ample space between them to improve air circulation.

All About Liatris

Your Guide to Planning, Planting, and Growing Liatris

Liatris is a summer-blooming perennial with grassy foliage and fuzzy, bottle-brush flowers. Commonly known as blazing star or gayfeather, this North American wildflower makes an attractive addition to flower gardens, cutting gardens, landscaped areas and informal plantings. The distinctive flower spikes stand 2 to 4-feet-tall and are magnets for butterflies.

Start with a Better Plant

Liatris grows from a bulb-like corm. Longfield Gardens supplies large, grade #1 corms (shown far left) that grow into healthy plants with strong root systems.

Plan for Success

Sun and Shade: Liatris grows best in full sun, though the plants will also tolerate some shade.

Zone: Liatris is winter hardy in zones 3-8. Not sure about your hardiness zone? Check the USDA zone map here.

When to Plant: Liatris corms are planted in spring, when the weather is cool and it’s easy for the young plants to get established. Flowers usually appear the first year, approximately 70 to 90 days after planting, and the plants will return to bloom again for years to come.

Where to Plant Liatris

Liatris grow wild in meadows and prairies throughout many parts of the U.S. Though the plants prefer well-drained soil, they will tolerate more moisture than many other garden perennials, so are often included in rain gardens.

Liatris can be an eye-catching addition to flower gardens. Their stately, wand-like flowers bloom in mid to late summer. Flower color is typically amethyst-purple, though there are also cultivars with pink or white flowers. Liatris are good cut flowers, and look wonderful in a vase with dahlias, zinnias and other summer blooms.

Because they are native plants, liatris are vigorous enough to hold their own when planted in a meadow or other natural area. The flowers attract a wide range of butterfly species, and this makes liatris a must for butterfly gardens. You’ll find it’s a good companion for ornamental grasses, and looks especially attractive planted in large sweeps or drifts.

How to Plant Liatris

The corms may be planted individually or you can dig a larger hole and plant several bulbs at the same time.

Loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8” and dig a 3″-deep hole.

Position the corms in the hole, about 5″ apart on center, with the smooth side down and the sprouts facing up.

Cover with soil and water them in if the soil is dry.

What to Expect

Liatris are tough plants, but if the weather is very dry, the newly planted corms should be watered weekly to help them establish a strong root system. As with all bulbs, avoid over-watering.

After the first couple months, liatris will need little to no attention. The plants are relatively drought tolerant, naturally pest and disease resistant, and deer usually ignore them.

Caring for Liatris after they Flower

When liatris have finished blooming, the flower stalks may be cut off at the base of the plant. But feel free to leave them standing — especially in naturalistic plantings where the spent flowers provide vertical interest long after their color has faded.

Give your butterfly friends a treat by planting liatris! The corms are available for spring planting from March-May. To shop, click HERE.

To learn more about butterfly gardening, you may be interested in reading: How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden.