How to Grow and Care for Blazing Star Flowers

About Growing Blazing Star Plants in Your Home Flower Garden

Whether you know this flowering plant as Liatris or Blazing Star flowers. You’ll enjoy its’ stately appearance. And, growing Blazing Star perennial plants is easy.

Liatris is native to America east of the Rocky Mountains. The Liatris plant grows one to five feet tall, depending upon which of a couple of dozen varieties you have, and the growing conditions. It produces tall spikes with bright purple flowers. Unlike most other spiked flowers, Liatris flowers bloom beginning from the top, progressing down the spike. The leaves are green and finely textured, turning a showy bronze in the Fall.

Liatris is good for cut flowers, fresh or dried.

Other Names: This flowering plant is also known as Gayfeather, Colic Root, and Button Snake Root

Flowers Bloom: Summer to early Fall.

Flower Colors: Purple, reddish-purple, and white.

Plant height: One to six feet tall, depending upon variety.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 9 – 11

Perennial, Tacca Chantrieri

Medicinal Uses

Liatris was used as an old-fashioned antispasmodic remedy for the intestines.

Blazing Star Flower Plant Propagation

Liatris, or Blazing Star, are grown from Corms or Rhizomes (depending upon the variety). After a few years, the clumps need to be dug up, and separated.

Liatris can also be grown from seeds. If grown from seeds, they will bloom the second year after planting them.

Seeds have a long germination period: 20-45 days.

Rhizome Planting Depth: Plant rhizomes (or corms) 2 to 3 inches deep.

Final Plant Spacing: 4 to 8 inches apart.

How to Grow Blazing Star Flowers

Growing Blazing Star plants is easy. They prefer full sun but will tolerate partial, light shade.

Liatris plants like rich, moist soil that is well-draining. However, they will tolerate varying soil conditions and fertility. It is most important that the soil is not wet or soggy for extended periods, as the roots will rot.

Water plants only if the soil is dry down a few inches. Add a layer of mulch to keep the weeds down, and your Liatris will grow almost maintenance-free.

Add a general-purpose fertilizer after the blooming period.

You will know when it is time to divide the plants, as the plant and flowers will grow smaller than normal. Divide and separate…… After a few years, the clumps of flowers need to be separated. Dig them up. Separate the Rhizomes, using a sharp knife. Make sure at least one “eye” is on each segment. Replant the rhizomes

Ideal Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5