Overview

Liatris aspera is a garden plant in the genus Liatris, part of the Asteraceae family. It typically grows around 0.3–1.8 metres tall.

About the genus

Liatris, commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America. Some species are used as ornamental plants, sometimes in flower bouquets. They are perennials, surviving the winter and resprouting from underground corms.

Wikipedia contributors, "Liatris", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Liatris

In the garden

Liatris aspera is a North American prairie perennial in the Asteraceae that produces tall, single stems bearing rows of purple, button-like flower heads. In the wild it occupies mesic to dry prairies, glades and savannas and is also found along roadsides and railways; the flower heads open from the top down and appear July to September. Siting should mimic open prairie conditions: choose an unshaded location where plants will experience mesic to dry surface conditions and good air movement. The species' upright, largely unbranched habit means plants present as individual spikes, so allow room for the stem architecture to show. No specialised soil is required beyond what suits a prairie planting; the plant's native habitats indicate tolerance of leaner, drier soils as well as more mesic patches. In UK gardens Liatris aspera works well at the back of a sunny border, in prairie-style or meadow plantings and in areas set aside for pollinators, where its tall spikes provide late-summer nectar. It is visited by butterflies and birds and the 0.3–1.8 m stems give reliable vertical structure through the flowering months.

Plant details

Liatris aspera size, habit and characteristics

Height

0.3–1.8 metres

Frequently asked questions

From the Fenn Plants journal

• Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
• Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
• Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.

More in the Liatris genus

• 
  Liatris aspera 'Alba'White Blazing Star
• 
  Liatris pycnostachyaKansas gay feather
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  Liatris spicata 'Alba'White Blazing Star
• 
  Liatris spicata 'Kobold' ('Gnome')Dense Blazing Star