Liatris

Blazingstars or gayfeaters are other names of Liatris. These are easy growing and reliable perennial native to grassland, open grazing land and quagmire across the North America. Liatris have linear Leaves and three to six feet tall and very solid stems, which bunch from thick rootsticks. The small feathery florets are set along tall points, flowering from top the top down, which is very strange. Liatris attracts butterflies and hummingbirds by the herd.

Liatris is the spring season flower that looks like a bunch of grass with most types quickly growing to about five feet in height. The pointed white, purple or rose blooms look like a baby bottle brush sit atop branches covered with needle-like leaves. Each point consists of massive amount of tiny flowers, providing enough food for butterflies, hummingbirds and bees through the spring and summer. Seed pods produced by the Liatris provides food for birds through the winter and fall.

Liatris will reseed itself and later cover a large area of land, giving visual impact as the tall points wave in the wind.

Some varieties of Liatris are short in height and do well planted in pots or as border plants.

How to Grow:

Liatris seeds should be planted in the spring season or fall, in a well drained soil in a sunny location at the depth of 2 inches. Liatris are lacked tolerant plants and most liatris varieties do not like moist soil.

• Plant the Liatris in a small landscape space, 
• In every few years divide the plant. 
• In the spring or early fall, divide or dig up the Liatris, they will have enough time to develop the roots after being replanted and divided.

Moist winter soil will normally kill the plants.

Propagation: Liatris are propagated by dividing the older plants in spring or from seed.


Uses: Blazingstars are used in large bunches in flower beds and borders. They are long lasting and popular cut flowers.

The pointed flowers of the Liatris, when cut, survive for more time than other fresh flowers and used in fresh floral arrangements. Parts of Liatris plants are used in many homeopathic remedies.