Liatris spicata
spike gayfeather
compoSitae
Spikes of violet, purple, or white flowers;
linear leaves
2–4 ft. (6–10 in.) high; 1–2 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms July–August
Zones 3–9
pruning Deadheading often induces
rebloom into August and September.
The flowers open from the top of the
spike to the bottom. Deadhead plants
by cutting the entire spike down to the
basal foliage when about 70 percent of
the flowering is finished. Deadheading
by cutting the spike midway may
produce several smaller (6-in.) spikes,
which can be useful for small flower
arrangements. I find the seedheads,
which turn fluffy and brown on
red-tinted stems, to be interesting inthe autumn and winter, and so I
usually elect to leave them up on
shorter growing cultivars. They are
also attractive to birds. Occasional
seeding may occur.
Further testing should be done to
determine the effects of cutting plants
back before flowering for height
reduction; results have been inconsis-
tent to date. Branching of the flower-
ing spike can occur, resulting in
anywhere from 2 to 10 shorter
branches from 1 cut stem; in other
cases there was no branching and
failure to flower. It appears that the
taller the plant is when cut back, the
more branches that break, possibly
due to the greater number of breaking
points on a taller stem. Plants cut back
by half when 12 in. tall formed 2
branches; those cut back when 2 1/2 ft.
tall formed up to 10 branches. It is
believed that the vigor of the plant
may have a significant impact on the
results of such pruning, with young
strong plants responding more
favorably.
other maintenance
Well-draining soil, particularly over
the winter, is critical to survival. Spike
gayfeather is tolerant of drought,
though it is native to moist meadows.
Plants may need division after 4–5
years. Flower spikes usually require
staking.
related plantS Liatris spicata
‘Kobold’ is an outstanding, more
compact form (2–2 1/2 ft.) that doesn’t
require staking. Plants cut back by half
in early June when 15 in. tall failed to
flower.
Liatris punctata, dotted blazing star
(zones 3–9), is a smart choice for xeric
landscapes, as it’s native to the arid
Midwest and Rocky Mountain states.
Sharp drainage is crucial to survival,
especially over the winter. Plants grow
from 1 to 2 ft. tall and need no staking
when they send up their violet bloom
spikes in July through September.
When well sited, dotted blazing star is
a long-lived perennial that never
needs division.Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’