Liatris

Botanical/Latin
   Liatris

Pronunciation
   Lee-at-ris

Common Name
   Blazing Star

Hardiness zone range
   3 - 9

General Comments
Bold, imposing flower spikes rise above grassy foliage in summer to early fall. These rigid flowering stems are unusual in that the buds which encircle the stem open from the top downwards. As they open, they become dense flowering cylinders that look a bit like pokers or feathery candles perched on grassy bases.

Uses
Liatris are great plants for creating vertical interest in perennial beds and mixed plantings. They are particularly impressive when massed in bold groupings. Among low carpeting or mounding partners, they become focal or dot plants; this is especially effective in long narrow borders where the vertical effect is emphasized.

They are easy to care for and require minimal upkeep; in low maintenance situations like wild flower meadows and naturalized settings, they form important additions. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds and, when the flowers fade, small birds (particularly finches) will feed on the seeds.

They are excellent cut flowers and can be used either fresh or dried. For fresh arrangements, cut the stems when about a third of the buds have opened. As dried flowers, they retain their color well if they are cut at a slightly later stage; wait until the majority of the buds have opened (but before the top buds start to turn brown). Strip the foliage and hang them to dry in small bunches in a well ventilated place.

Light Preference
Full sun, with tolerance to partial shade.

Culture
They grow well in most soils as long as they do not become waterlogged. They are sturdy natives that are remarkably resilient; they will withstand the heat in the summer, cold in winter, and short periods of summer drought, even putting up with poor soils if they must. That said, the best results are obtained where good cultural conditions exist. Their preference is for loamy, fertile soils that have a capacity to retain moisture in dry weather. At planting time, it is worth supplementing the soil with extra organic matter and mulching afterwards. Fertilizing, watering, and removing the old flower stems after flowering will help to build up the bulbous roots for next season and encourage extra vigor and lushness. They are not troubled by pests and diseases, and they will grow well for years without needing to be divided. Where low maintenance is a priority, they rank right at the top of the list.

Background
Liatris is indigenous only to N. America. There are around 30 species of which Liatris spicata is by far the best known and is considered one of the best for garden purposes. It occurs in the Eastern and Southern States from Ontario to Florida, and from New York to Michigan. It was collected and introduced to England in 1732. Liatris was thought to have useful medicinal properties and it is conceivable that the first plants to be introduced may have passed through the newly established botanical garden of John Bartram near Philadelphia. He described it in an appendix to his Medicina Britanica of 1751 as a "throat-wort" (it was believed at that time that chewing the tubers would cure sore throats). European gardeners and the commercial cut flower industry discovered their ornamental qualities, and these striking plants, with their unique characteristic of flowering from the top downwards, began to be used as reliable garden perennials and more recently as very fine cut flowers.

Splendor Suggestions
Consider planting some in a cutting garden or in containers. They take about 90 days to reach the flowering stage. Extra corms can be lifted from established clumps and cured by drying them for about a week, and then storing them in a plastic bag in a refrigerator. If some are replanted to begin growth at the normal time and others are held back in the cold conditions, it is possible to have a succession of flowers from early July to fall.

Companion Plants
The opportunities to make exciting combinations are many and varied. They work well in mixed borders with shrubs and other perennials. They look great with plants of rounded habit, so with lower growing shrubs like Spireas, Abelias, Berberis, etc.,use them to break up the shape and add attractive vertical impact. The same applies to perennials; try them with clumps of Coreopsis, Leucanthemums, and Nepetas. They look great with "flat headed" flowers; try them next to clumps of Achilleas and Echinaceas, or the silvery Artemisia `Powis Castle'. A final thought - put them next to the arching foliage and big bold flowers of Hemerocallis (Daylilies).