Am I Taking Good Care Of My Liatris?

Did you planted your Liatris in a location where it can get at least six hours of sunlight each day?

Did you planted your Liatris in a well-drained, but not overly fertile soil?

Did you water young corms weekly, and lesser once the plants got established?

Do you feed your Liatris frequently?

Do you deadhead faded flowers to prolong blooming?

Do you divide your Liatris plants every few years to prevent overcrowding?

Do you keep your Liatris free of pests and diseases?

Choose a site with full sun to plant your Liatris corms. They prefer full, unobstructed sun for most of the day, but they will still grow provided they get at least six hours of sun in the middle of the day.

Like most prairie plants, a blazing star isn’t choosy about soil conditions and may grow too tall and flop over in soil that is overly fertile. The one essential is good drainage, especially in winter. The roots can rot if allowed to sit in wet soil. Liatris plants prefer a slightly acid to neutral soil pH.

Water new plantings weekly in dry weather until a strong root system is established. Once plants have matured, they will tolerate dry spells because the corms naturally retain water. However, if you experience prolonged periods of drought during the heat of the summer, give your plants about an inch of water a week to keep them hydrated.

Liatris is not a heavy feeder, but if the soil fertility is poor you can apply a balanced flower fertilizer only once a year, in the spring as active growth begins.

Because of blazing star blooms from the top down, you can pinch back the spent blossoms to prolong blooming. Plants will also readily self-sow if you don’t cut the flower stalks back in the fall.

Divide clumps every few years, or as needed to prevent overcrowding. Dig up the plants in spring and cut the tuberous roots into sections with a sharp knife, making sure each section has one “eye” or bud.

God job! You are taking good care of your Liatris.

Liatris is nearly immune to all insects, but it can be prone to several diseases, including leaf spots, rusts, stem rot, powdery mildew, and wilt. To prevent disease issues, space the plants so that there is good air circulation and sunlight exposure.