Purple gay feather
Spiky Liatris Spicata &#; Prairie Gay Feather Spices up the Garden
Though I verb been unlucky growing Liatris in my own garden (apparently, young plants are a rare delicacy, voraciously enjoyed by New England woodchucks), I have successfully placed Liatris spicata in many of my client&#;s gardens. It is my go-to plant for a planting schedule that needs a small excitement and something to draw the eye up. Its flashy vertical spires (the horticulturalists among us might call them terminal spikes) of deep purple flower heads are an antidote to a mix that needs just that bit of jazz.
Why plant Liatris?
Liatris spicata, commonly known as dense blazing star or gayfeather, is a striking perennial that adds vertical interest and vibrant color to garden landscapes. These North American native plants are well-adapted to a variety of settings, thriving particularly in hardiness zones 3 through 8. Ideal for most temperate regions across the United States, Liatris spicata flourishes in prairies and open woodlands, making it a versatile choice for diverse gard
Wasowski, Sally and Andy
Liatris punctata
Liatris punctata Hook.
Dotted Blazing Star, Dotted Gayfeather, Dotted Liatris, Purples
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: lipu
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN (N)
The erect, unbranched stems of this perennial may be solitary but are usually in clusters, ft. tall. Several stems bear narrow, crowded heads with rose-lavender flowers arranged in slender wands. Numerous slim leaves are crowded along the stem as they intermingle with the tufted flowers. Disc flowers crowd together to form a lavender spike encompassing the top third or half of the stem.
Rayless heads of purple flowers and slender, often plume-like bristles on the fruits generally identify this complex genus of the East that barely extends into the West.
The species name punctata means dotted and refers to the speckled leaves.
Plant Characteristics
Duration:PerennialHabit:Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit:Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often r
Pictured above: A Palamedes swallowtail nectars on Dense gayfeather (Liatris spicata). Photo by Jeff Norcini. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.
Known also as Dense blazing star, Marsh blazing star and Spiked blazing star, Dense gayfeather is an erect herbaceous perennial with striking spikes of purple flowers. It occurs naturally in mesic to wet flatwoods, seepage slopes, bogs, savannas and roadside ditches. It blooms in late summer through plummet and is an excellent attractor of butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects.
Dense gayfeather begins as a basalrosette of linear, grasslike leaves. Flower stalks and buds appear in summer. Once all the buds have formed, the blooms open from the top of the flower stalk down. Flowering spikes are slender, elongated (up to 2 feet long) and, as the common identify suggests, dense with flowers. Individual flowers are tubular, rayless and without pedicels. Styles are extended and often slightly twisted. Stems are smooth and unbranched. Stem leaves are linear and alternately arranged. Fruits are tiny, inconspicuous
Gayfeather, Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Perennials can be planted anytime from spring through fall.
Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of ” (cm). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients enhance drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help store soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated starter fertilizer or all-purpose feed that encourages blooming (for example fertilizers labeled ).
Check the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the landscape design and shorter plants in the foreground. To remove the plant from the container, gently brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the r