Liatris Spicata Alba (Blazing Star, White Gayfeather)

I bought these corms from Petrichor back in April 2022 at the Harrogate Flower Festival & I split the original clump (although it had been moved a couple of times) into a few smaller clumps for the first time this spring.

Liatris flower from the top down over a period of about 4 weeks

(Liatris are often sold as ‘bulbs’ when they are actually corms: the corms are solid, round structures that look similar to bulbs but don’t have the layered tunic - the dried protective outer base leaves - of a true bulb like a daffodil; nor are they an imbricate bulb like a lily that the scales can be separated easily).

One of the things I find fascinating about the Liatris is that it flowers from the top down, many other flowers seem to flower bottom to top. This seems to take about 4 weeks(ish).

I like that the fluffy bottle brush style flowers are tall (about 90cm) from grass like basal foliage and fairly simple in their spiky form but very fragrant & are obviously attractive to pollinators. give good contrast to many other plants going into autumn.

They take very little looking after.

They like moist, well drained soil (but will tolerate drought) & to be in full sun (but will tolerate part shade).

They’re virtually pest & disease resistant & deer resistant.

They’re also super for cut flowers or in dried arrangements if focussing on ‘grown-not-flown’.

You also get them in a lilac colour.

Deadheading can also encourage more flowers & extend the season, something you might not think of with them often being sold as ‘bulbs’.

Pollinators love them, especially the bees & the bees seem to have the knowledge that we sometimes forget as time passes... so a good indicator is to watch the bees. Liatris used to be used for breathing, swelling & digestive issues, but we no longer seem to use it for these things yet the bees who are best known for producing the most anti inflammatory product we have flock to Liatris!

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