Dense Blazing Star

Description

Liatris spicata is a member of the Asteraceae Family. This plant grows from an underground corm supporting a tall stem that can grow from 2 to 5 feet tall, ending in an elongated spike of closely placed, stemless, rose-purple flower heads (more rarely seen are white flowers). The flowers bloom from top to bottom, beginning in July and lasting into September. At the bottom of the stem, narrow, grass-like, green leaves alternate up the stem, growing shorter as they near the top blooming spike. This plant is hardy in zones 5 through 10 and found growing in New Jersey and west to Illinois and Michigan, and south to Florida and Louisiana. Over time, your Liatris plant will increase its footprint size by spinning off additional corms, producing more stems in a tight colony. Liatris is easily divided to increase plant numbers or share with friends; just be careful when digging to keep the underground corms attached.

Growing Conditions

L. spicata prefers moisture but can also tolerate some drought. It also prefers full sun but can also do acceptably well in partial shade. The pH value I found that Liatris prefers is <6.8, a slightly acid reading but very close to 7.0, which is neutral. In nature, this plant is found growing in woodland openings, prairie settings, and marshes. With its strong vertical structure, it is a low-maintenance plant. It will probably perform very well in the average garden.

Ecological Value: Wildlife, Insects, etc.

L.spicata is visited for nectar by monarchs and other butterflies. It is the larval host plant for Schinia gloriosa, a flower moth found in North Carolina and areas south. Hummingbirds also visit for nectar. Rabbits, groundhogs, and voles will nibble the leaves. It is considered by some as deer-proof, but when food is scarce, deer might give in and nibble it too. Seed heads are an important food source for songbirds in late fall and winter.

Landscaping

Liatris spicata is frequently in the mix for people installing a meadow. They fit in as specimen plants in borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, and rock gardens. Their tolerance for moisture makes them a candidate for pond margins.

Ethnobotany

The Cheyenne on the Great Plains used the leaves and roots with anti-bacterial properties to help alleviate sore throats, backaches, limb pain, and kidney and bladder diseases. Liatris roots were burned as incense to treat headache pain. Leaves were used to treat upset stomach and make an antiseptic wash.

Pests and Diseases

There are no significant insect problems with Liatris spicata. There are some disease issues that might cause problems: two varieties of leaf spot and two varieties of rust, one variety of stem rot, and one each of powdery mildew and wilt. At the Bees, Bugs, and Blooms Trial Garden, we have experienced a bit of powdery mildew. It occurred during a very hot weather period when we also experienced late afternoon or evening showers that left the plants wet going into the nighttime. The result was a powdery look to the green leaves, but it appeared to leave the flowers alone.

Varieties

We only have one other variety of Liatris in the Trial Garden and only one plot containing its plants. The variety is Liatris microcephala. Seeing the botanical name, you will probably not be surprised that its common name is dwarf liatris. Its native habitat is in the mountains of North Carolina, and many of us who have tried to grow it in our local, wet, winter, Pennsylvania climate have failed to get it to survive even one winter here. Our one plot of this plant only contains about six plants, which are what is left of the original 60 plants we planted back in 2011. I was under the mistaken idea that microcephala was native to the flat prairie area of the Midwest. What we need to do to make microcephala feel at home here is to try to duplicate the growing conditions of a poor soil mountain area. Add a lot of rocks and gravel to the soil, too, and increase the water drainage. Bottom line, this plant is a petite version of Liatris spicata. The six or so plants remaining in our garden are a butterfly magnet when they come into bloom.

Cultivars of Liatris spicata:

'Alba' - pure white flowers, 18 inches tall
'Callilepsis' - stems are extra-long, making it good as a cut flower
'Floristan Violet' - strong-stemmed cultivar with violet-hued flowers
'Kobold' - small compact plant with deep-purple flowers

Companion Plants and Suggestions for Pairings

Echinacea purpurea - flower together, rose-purple spicata with magenta coneflower
Aromatic aster 'Radon's Favorite' - one purple flower will follow the other
Asclepias tuberosa - flower together, rose-purple spicata w/orange butterfly weed
Black-eyed Susan - some bloom overlap, rose-purple spicata followed by gold black-eyed Susan
Coreopsis verticillata - gold coreopsis followed by rose-purple liatris

References

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Liatris 
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Liatris