If you’ve ever walked past a garden in late July and seen what looks like neon-purple pipe cleaners sticking out of the ground, you’ve met Liatris spicata. Most people call it Blazing Star or Gayfeather, and honestly, it’s one of the few plants that lives up to its flashy name.
It's weird. Most flowers bloom from the bottom up, like they’re climbing a ladder. Not this one. Liatris spicata starts at the top and works its way down. It’s the rebel of the prairie.
The Pollinator Magnet Nobody Tells You About
You want butterflies? Plant this. You want so many bees your garden hums? Plant this. Monarchs basically treat these purple spikes like a highway rest stop during their migration. Because the plant is native to the eastern United States, it has this deep, evolutionary handshake with local insects.
The Liatris Flower Moth actually depends on it. These tiny moths lay eggs on the flowers, and the larvae eat the seeds. It’s a whole ecosystem in one stem.
✨ Don't miss: How to Sign Someone Up for Scientology: What Actually Happens and What You Need to Know
Goldfinches love the seeds too. If you can resist the urge to tidy up your garden in November, leave the dried stalks standing. You'll see bright yellow birds clinging to the brown spikes all winter. It’s free bird food.
Liatris spicata: Growing Tips for People Who Kill Plants
Seriously, it’s hard to mess this up if you get the drainage right. Liatris grows from corms—which look like hairy little potatoes—and they hate sitting in a bathtub of cold mud.
- Sun is non-negotiable. Give it 6 to 8 hours. If you put it in the shade, the stems will get floppy and sad, or they’ll twist around like they’re searching for the exit.
- Soil is flexible. It likes "average" soil. If your dirt is too rich or you use too much fertilizer, the plant gets lazy. The stems will fall over under the weight of the flowers.
- Watering rules. It's a "set it and forget it" situation once it's established. The first year, keep it moist so the roots can find their footing. After that? It’s pretty drought-tolerant.
The Winter Rot Trap
Here is the one thing that actually kills Liatris spicata: wet feet in winter. If you live somewhere with heavy clay that stays soggy until April, your corms might rot.
🔗 Read more: Wire brush for cleaning: What most people get wrong about choosing the right bristles
One trick is to plant them in slightly raised mounds or add some coarse sand or grit to the hole. Some gardeners, like the folks over at the Chicago Botanic Garden, have noted that while it’s a "marsh" plant in the wild, it actually thrives in well-drained garden soil because it doesn't have to compete with aggressive swamp grasses.
Picking the Right Variety
Not all Blazing Stars are the same height. If you have a small suburban plot, you probably don't want the 5-foot giants that live in the wild.
- 'Kobold': This is the one you see at big-box stores. It’s compact, usually topping out at 18 to 24 inches. It’s sturdy and rarely needs a stake.
- 'Floristan White': If you’re into that "moonlight garden" look, this one has crisp, snowy spikes.
- 'Floristan Violet': Specifically bred for the floral industry. If you want to cut flowers for vases, this is your winner.
What Most People Get Wrong About Liatris
People see the word "marsh" in one of its common names (Marsh Blazing Star) and think they need to plant it in a pond. Don't do that. It likes moisture, but it needs air.
💡 You might also like: Images of Thanksgiving Holiday: What Most People Get Wrong
Also, watch out for the "mystery excavators." Voles and squirrels think Liatris corms are delicious snacks. If you find holes where your plants used to be, you might need to plant them inside "cages" made of hardware cloth or sprinkle some crushed gravel in the planting hole to discourage the chewers.
Practical Steps to Get Started
If you’re ready to add some vertical drama to your yard, here’s how to do it right.
First, buy corms in the spring. You can get them in bags of 20 or 50 for pretty cheap. Plant them about 2 to 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart. They look best in "drifts"—don't just plant one lonely spike. Group at least five together for a big visual punch.
Second, don't over-manage. No heavy fertilizer. No constant pampering.
Lastly, when the flowers finally fade in late summer, don't be in a rush to cut them down. Those "dead" brown spikes are actually full of life for the birds and the stem-nesting bees that will move in once the temperatures drop.