Gayfeather Liatris
Thrives in Zones 3-8
Long-lasting flowers enhance garden beauty
Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance
Adds vertical interest to landscapes
Ships in
7-10 DaysThis Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery
Bloom Season
Fall
Bloom/Foliage Color
Purple
Height at Maturity
Over 12"
Care
Water Gayfeather Liatris moderately, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Ensure well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Trim spent flowers to encourage continued blooming and use mulch to keep moisture and manage weeds.
Plant Reproduction
Gayfeather Liatris spreads via rhizomes and self-seeding in garden beds.
How to Grow and Care for Bare Root Perennials, Tubers, and Bulbs
Bare root perennials, tubers, and bulbs are an easy and economical way to jumpstart your garden with lasting beauty. These dormant plants should be planted in early spring or fall while the soil is cool and workable. Before planting, soak bare roots in water for 1–2 hours to rehydrate them. Choose a location based on the plant’s light needs—most flowering types prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade.
For bare root perennials, dig a shallow hole and spread the roots out naturally, ensuring the crown is level with the soil surface. For tubers and bulbs, plant with the pointed side facing up at a depth about two to three times their height. Cover with soil, gently press down, and water thoroughly.
Keep soil consistently moist (not soggy) until new growth appears. Add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid covering the crown or bulb tops. Once established, these plants require little maintenance—just seasonal watering, occasional dividing, and deadheading or pruning as needed. With proper care, they’ll return and thrive year after year.
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Stunning Vertical Blooms:
Our Gayfeather Liatris package features striking purple or white spikes that bloom from top to bottom, adding a dramatic vertical element to your garden that catches the eye.
Native Charm:
Found naturally in meadows and prairies, Gayfeather Liatris is well-suited to various garden conditions, bringing a touch of natural beauty and resilience to your outdoor space.
Perfect Planting Partners:
These versatile plants pair beautifully with beardtongue, beebalm, blue fescue, common Bluestar, and false blue indigo, creating harmonious and visually appealing garden combinations.
Versatile and Unique:
Also known as dense blazing star and button snakeroot, these plants offer a unique touch with their distinctive flower spikes, making them a standout feature in any landscape.
Gayfeather Liatris for Sale | Liatris spicata Plant
The Gayfeather liatris is a magnificent North American native whose fluffy, purple blooms have been dotting prairies for centuries. Its native range extends up into eastern Canada, and includes the midwestern and eastern United States. It thrives in prairies and meadows, but would be just as at home at the sunny edge of your native or wildflower garden.
Liatris Plant Details | Gayfeather Liatris spicata
Family: Asteraceae
Light Requirement: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate, Regular
Height: 2-4 ft
Spread: 1 ft
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil
Bloom Time: July, August, September
Flower Color: Purple
Wildlife Value: Host plant for moths, attracts pollinators, animals eat the seeds
Why Gayfeather Liatris is a Must-Have Pollinator Plant
This plant is distinct and immediately recognizable by its elongated inflorescence and thick, unbranched stem which often grows to 4 ft tall. Its leaves are long and thin, and clustered at the base before extending up the stem towards the showy flower cluster.
The purple blossoms bloom very close to the stem, and their fluffy petals spread outward covering the top few inches of the stem with a burst of purple. Their lush, finely textured foliage and unique height give wonderful contrast to the delicate, drooping plants in your garden. The Gayfeather Liatris has often been used medicinally by many indigenous peoples as a painkiller, and as an herbal insect repellent.
How to Grow and Maintain Gayfeather Liatris Plants
The Gayfeather Liatris is excellent for attracting pollinators and other insects to your garden. The showy, purple flowers attract a wide variety of butterflies and bee species, including Bumblebees, Leaf-cutter bees, and digger bees. The colorful flowers attract hummingbirds which feed on the nectar while groundhogs, voles and rabbits eat all parts of the plant.
This gorgeous flower is also a host plant for the rare and beautiful Glorious Flower Moth and the Liatris Borer Moth. The caterpillars of the latter will bore right through the plants’ thick stem, while the former’s larvae rest on the flower buds.
The Glorious Flower Moth blends beautifully in with the pinky-brown color of the stem and budding flowers with its shimmering, pink and tan wings, and can often be found resting on the plant as it turns slowly from purple to bronze in the autumn.