About
This herbaceous perennial with rough stems to a height of 2m with a strong growing, drought tolerant rosette of hairy green leaves. Flowers in summer. The stems carry small, narrow leaves and towards the tops, spikes of blooms up to 45cm long, made up of clusters of small purple flowers.
About the genus
Liatris are herbaceous perennials with narrow, grass-like foliage and erect, bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers which open from the top down
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeSand, Loam, Chalk
Soil pHNeutral, Alkaline, Acid
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright, Clump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPrairie planting, Wildlife gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden
Native toEastern N America
Care notes
CultivationGrows in well-drained soil in full sun. May need staking in windier positions. Dislikes winter wet. See staking perennials
PruningCut back at the end of the season to ground level
PropagationPropagate from seed in autumn or by division in early spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to a rust and a leaf spot