Discover how to grow and care for Liatris spicata, commonly known as Gayfeather or Blazing Star. This stunning native perennial is a midsummer showstopper, offering vibrant purple spikes that are both low-maintenance and highly attractive to pollinators.

In this video, we cover why Liatris is a must-have for your garden, its preferred growing conditions, and why it makes an exceptional cut flower for floral arrangements. Whether you’re looking for architectural interest or a tough plant for a sunny spot, Liatris is a perfect choice!

Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to Liatris spicata (Gayfeather) 
0:17 - Why it’s a great low-maintenance perennial 
0:45 - Flower spikes and bloom season 0:55 - Ideal growing conditions: Sun and moisture 
1:04 - Using Liatris as a cut flower 
1:24 - Color varieties and native habitat



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Choosing Flowers for Pollinators (Coreopsis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgi9ZYTOQXk
Bluestar (Amsonia) - Tough Native Perennial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH3MWTrV14I
Grow Iron Butterfly - Threadleaf Ironweed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMaNp1Cleag
Growing Tips for Oakleaf Hydrangea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d46lZYV_cV0

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The genus Liatris is in the Aster family, Asteraceae. The etymology of this word is ‘obscure’ but I’ll take a stab at it. In Tasmanian, the noun ‘lia’ means water, and indeed the members of this genus LOVE water. But that would be a stretch, because these are American native plants, and to think that someone would use a little-used language to name them strains incredulity, much like the above-mentioned candidate claiming that these behaviors are behind him. So my search also yielded ‘lia,’ from the Irish language (not sure why they didn’t say ‘Celtic’), meaning ‘stone’ or ‘pillar.’ This also could be applicable because of the upright and columnar nature of the flower stalk. Lastly, in a language not specified, ‘lia’ also means ‘healer, physician.’ This too could also work, as the plant was used by many tribes of the First Peoples, as a cure or paliative for rheumatism, stomach trouble, swollen testes and as a general tonic.  

 There are over thirty species of Liatris, but the more commonly grown ornamental species is Liatris spicata, which is native to the eastern half of North America. Preferring sunny bog or stream bank situations, this perennial grows to about four or five feet tall when in bloom, with a spread of about a foot or two.  It blooms in mid- to late summer, sending up spikes of blue, sometimes red, pink or white flowers. The small flowers are indeed star-shaped, giving it one of its common names. The spikes are often a foot-and-a-half long, which gives us the other common name.  Seeing a patch of them in full bloom, swaying in a prairie breeze is a wonderful sight to behold.

 Prairie Gay Feather blooms for up to a month, which can be prolonged somewhat by deadheading the spent blooms. Many pollinators visit Blazing Star, including many butterflies and some species of birds. They are very tolerant of summer heat, wet soils and benign neglect. Some staking of the tall varieties may be necessary for some gardens, and there are no serious pests or diseases to keep the plant up at night. In addition to providing excellent fresh cut flowers that last many days in the vase, they also dry well. So you tell me; what’s not to like about Liatris spicata?