Liatris ligulistylis
- Common Name
- Hardiness Zones
- 4 - 9
- Exposure
- Blooms In
- Mature Height
- 3 - 5'
- Mature Spread
- 12 - 18"
- Ships As
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- Features: i
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Product Details
Native to western central portions of Canada and the US, this pollinator magnet flowers from July to September and, perhaps most notably, provides fuel for Monarch butterflies for their long migration. Liatris ligulistylis also serves as a feeding station for goldfinches in fall. Gardeners appreciate the tall, slightly airy flower spikes with fluffy, rosy purple blossoms that open from crimson buds. Plants prefer dry, sandy or rocky soil with good drainage. While usually topping out at 2-3’ in the wild, this species, when cultivated (especially in fertile, loamy soil), may grow taller and require staking.
The genus Liatris, native to North America, includes about 40 species all beloved by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Their fluffy, somewhat star-like or feathery blossoms (from which the common names Blazing Star and Gayfeather derive) open from top to bottom on tall flower spikes which stand above basal clusters of attractive, linear foliage. Liatris make fantastic accent plants in summer-blooming borders and beds (appearing to best advantage when planted in groups), and they are central to any pollinator garden. The flower stalks are superb for cutting and drying, as well. Plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Depending on the species, they may tolerate moist or dry conditions. As members of the Aster family, Liatris are unusual in that their individual blossoms comprise only disc flowers, not a combination of disc and ray flowers characteristic of the composite blooms in this family (as seen in the common Daisy).
Shipping Info
We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.
Delivery Timing
We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.
In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.
Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery.Â
Tracking information for each package is delivered via email.Â
Plant & Container Sizes
We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment.Â
Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival
It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.
Growing Guide
Latin Name Pronunciation: lye-ay'-triss
Plant in well-drained, even dry, soil. Liatris spicata 'Kobold' also tolerates damp soil in summer (it will rot in soil that remains wet through the winter). It is often difficult to tell top from bottom on Liatris corms; when in doubt, plant them on their sides. Remove spent flower spikes to prevent the appearance of unwanted seedlings.
Our Guarantee
At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.
Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].