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
Liatris aspera is a perennial wildflower in the aster family that bears erect, unbranched stems topped with dense, purple, button-like flower heads. Plants typically reach 0.3–1.8 m tall and carry numerous narrowly lanceolate leaves along the stem. Flower heads open from the top downward and are produced July to September. It is native to central and eastern North America and occurs in prairies, glades and dry savannas.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Liatris aspera
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
How big does Liatris aspera grow?
Liatris aspera reaches a height of 0.3–1.8 metres.
More in the Liatris genus
- Liatris aspera 'Alba'White Blazing Star
- Liatris pycnostachyaKansas gay feather
- Liatris scariosa 'White Spire'
- Liatris spicatabutton snakewort
- Liatris spicata 'Alba'White Blazing Star
- Liatris spicata 'Kobold' ('Gnome')Dense Blazing Star