Liatris spicata

Liatris spicata
blazing star, gayfeather

SIZE/TYPE	mid-sized perennial
USUAL HEIGHT	0.5-1m
USUAL WIDTH	0.3-0.4m
LEAVES	deciduous broadleaf
COLOUR OF LEAVES	green
FLOWERS	showy
COLOUR OF FLOWERS	violet
BLOOMING TIME	July - August
LOCATION	full sun
SOIL TYPE	any (acidic to alkaline)
SOIL MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS	tolerates (but does not demand) wet ground
USDA zone (lowest)	5 (down to -29°C)
WINTER PROTECTION
FOR ZONE 5+6
FOR ZONE 7
BELONGS TO CATEGORIES	Perennials Summer blooms

Blazing star is a popular perennial in European gardens. It makes 45-70 cm long spikes of pink button-like flowerheads which open from the top of the inflorescence downwards and last for a long time. Linear leaves are mid green leaves are arranged in basal tufts and are very attractive even when the plant is not in flower. It needs reliably moist but well drained site with humus-rich soil and full sun. It may die in heavy soil with no drainage over winter. Check it in early summer for slugs. Fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5) without mulch and -37°C with mulch (USDA zone 3b).

Last update 15-06-2008.

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GLOSSARY

STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.