Liatris

(Blazing Star) Spicata

Liatris spicata sends up narrow, upright spikes packed with fluffy purple florets that open from the top downwards, the reverse of almost everything else in the border. Underneath the flower stems sits a tuft of fine, grassy green leaves. Expect 60-80 cm in height and a narrow 30-40 cm spread, so it slips into tight gaps between broader plants. Plant 7-9 per square metre; in a group of five or more the vertical spikes read far better than a single plant does. It flowers through summer from July into September and is a reliable magnet for bees and butterflies, which makes it a good choice for a sunny border, a prairie style planting or a gravel bed.

Full sun is essential; in shade the spikes lean over and flowering thins out. Give it free draining garden soil, sandy or gravelly for preference, and avoid heavy ground that stays wet all winter because the corms rot far sooner than they freeze. Once established it takes dry spells in its stride, so water only in a long drought; in a pot the soil dries much faster and needs checking every week. Leave the faded spikes standing for winter structure, then cut the whole plant back to ground level in late winter or early spring. It is fully hardy in open ground and the clump slowly thickens each year without ever becoming a nuisance.

Your order will be hand picked and packed in our strong and sustainable packaging as soon as possible, after which it will be delivered straight from our greenhouse to your door by your chosen carrier. You can follow the journey of your plants via the tracking link you receive in your mail. If you have any questions regarding your order and its shipment, you can get in contact with our support team.

We expect every order to arrive in tip-top shape. We take intensive care of the plants in our greenhouse and use special and as sustainable as possible protective packaging to ship our plants. We also wrote an extensive blog about how to unpack and prepare your plants for growth after shipping. However there are rare occasions where our plants don’t meet their full potential. That’s why all plants are guaranteed for 30 days after arrival, if still in its original nursery pot.