Spike Gayfeather Liatris spicata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-AY-tris spi-KAY-tuh
- Description
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Marsh blazing star, in the Asteraceae (daisy or aster) family, is a clump-forming perennial that typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall. It is native to the eastern United States and is most often found in moist areas or growing in meadows. In NC it is found in the coastal and Piedmont areas. The tall spikes of flowers bloom from the top down, are showy and attract pollinators. The foliage is grass-like and grows in clumps.
This low-maintenance plant prefers average to moist, well-drained soils that range from acidic to neutral in pH. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and also tolerates summer heat and humidity. This particular species does better in moist soils than some other blazing stars. The plant has corms with shallow fibrous roots and can produce new colonies from its corms, though it most often propagates by seed.
It is very attractive in mass plantings in a pollinator garden, rain garden, perennial border, native plant garden, or a cottage garden. It is a host plant for the larvae of both the Liatris flower moth (Schinia sanguinea) and the Liatris borer moth (Carmenta anthracipennis).
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Sometimes taller stems can flop over and may require staking.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County Pollinator and Culinary Garden Pollinator Garden at the Cabarrus County Extension Office Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden, Durham Co.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Callilepsis'
Long stems are good for cutting - 'Floristan Violett'
A florist favorite - 'Floristan White'
White flowers - 'Kobold'
Deep purple flowers, small and compact size
var. resinosa
Found in the southern part of the species' range - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Callilepsis', 'Floristan Violett', 'Floristan White', 'Kobold', var. resinosa
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Callilepsis'
Long stems are good for cutting - 'Floristan Violett'
A florist favorite - 'Floristan White'
White flowers - 'Kobold'
Deep purple flowers, small and compact size
var. resinosa
Found in the southern part of the species' range - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Callilepsis', 'Floristan Violett', 'Floristan White', 'Kobold', var. resinosa
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Liatris
- Species:
- spicata
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Roots used medicinally by Native Americans
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central to Eastern United States and Eastern Canada
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WI , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Larval forms of Schinia sanguinea (Liatris Flower Moth) feed on the flowers and seeds, and the larval form of Carmenta anthracipennis (Liatris Borer Moth) eat the stems. Goldfinches eat the seeds with relish.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Cypselae (a type of achene) with stiff light brown bristles in fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 6-12 inch long flower spikes are densely packed with stemless flowers in purple, pink or white that bloom from the top down. Some cultivars have red flowers. Individual flowers contain 4 to 10 disks florets (no ray florets), are 1/3- 1/2 inch across with an exserted style. Blooms mid-summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The basal clump of alternate, narrow deep green leaves with a strong central vein are up to 12 inches long and 1/3 inch wide. Leaves grow smaller as they ascend the flower stalk. They are glabrous to sparsely hairy. Margins are entire.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green to purplish stem is round and smooth to slightly pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
- Poor Soil
