A spectacular and unpretentious liatris for your garden

Flowers

Liatris captivates passersby with its fluffy, candle-like inflorescences. The flowers open gradually, providing a long-lasting display of vibrant colors. This ornamental plant is well worth planting in your garden. It's so easy to maintain, its beauty is captivating, and it requires minimal care.

Description of the plant

Rhizome perennial With straight shoots reaching a height of 2 meters. The intensity of branching varies depending on the species. The stems are densely covered with alternate or cuspidate leaf blades. The roots are tuberous, but resemble small bulbs. Flowering, in which the inflorescences, collected in spikelets, open downwards, occurs in summer. The color range varies from red to white. The inflorescence height is about half a meter.

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The advantages of a flower

Every plant has its advantages. For some, the main advantage is fragrance, for others, medicinal properties, for others, high ornamental value, and for others, ease of cultivation. But there are flowers that combine all of these qualities. The advantages of liatris:

can grow in one place without replanting for up to 7 years;
unpretentious;
drought-resistant;
blooms profusely even in light shade;
winter-hardy – -30 ᵒC;
undemanding to soil composition.

Species diversity

Liatris grows in South and North America. All species, without exception, emit a distinct vanilla scent with subtle notes of hay. The plant's shoots contain high levels of coumarin, which is used in perfumery. Liatris-based infusions tone the skin, and poultices heal wounds. Furthermore, all varieties of the flower are helpful for kidney disease, as a remedy against malaria, and even for sexually transmitted diseases. Three typical varieties of Liatris can be grown in the garden: spicate, rough, and membranous.

Features of cultivation

This beautiful flowering plant is grown from seed or by planting a tuber. If the site is chosen correctly and all planting requirements are met, subsequent care will not require much time or effort. Cultivation techniques include timely watering, loosening the soil, and fertilizing. To maintain the flower's decorative appearance, it's best to regularly monitor its phytosanitary conditions, promptly collect snails, and spray the plants with a fungicide.

Planting nuances

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Plant the crop in sunny spots or in dappled shade from sparse tree canopies. The soil should be loose, with a deep, light topsoil. Compost is added as a loosening agent when digging the plot, which also enriches the soil with nutrients. Spring and early fall are suitable for planting tubers. Spring is the only time for seeding.

For your information!

Liatris thrives in dry soil, without a high water table. Heavy clay soils, however, inhibit growth and can lead to plant death.

If liatris is already present in the area, it can be propagated vegetatively by dividing the tubers and planting them in a permanent location. If this isn't possible, the process is more time-consuming:

Sow seeds in a cold greenhouse or in open ground at the end of March or the beginning of April.
The seedlings are grown until mid-autumn.
When the greenery dies off, the tubers are dug up and stored with a lump of earth until mid-spring.
When the time comes, plant them at a depth of 3 cm with a distance of 20 cm.

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Secrets of care

To ensure liatris blooms profusely and regularly, simple agricultural practices are followed. Key tasks on the plot:

Name	Description
Watering	The flower tolerates drought better than overwatering. Water the plant only when the surface layer dries out, provided there is no precipitation. If rain falls weekly, liatris does not require additional watering. If there is excessive rainfall, additional soil drainage is needed to prevent water stagnation in the roots. This can lead to the development of gray mold and the death of the plant.
Soil treatment	After watering, the tree trunks are loosened to allow air to reach the roots. Weeds that inhibit the growth of the liatris are removed at the same time. To inhibit weed growth and maintain soil looseness, the soil is mulched with peat.
Top dressing	To ensure decorative properties and lush flowering, liatris requires regular feeding. In the spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used to stimulate foliage growth. In the summer and fall, potassium and phosphorus are added. The latter macronutrients are responsible for normalizing metabolism, promoting active budding, and prolonged flowering. With a high potassium content, the plant tolerates cold well.
Tying to a support	Tall stems are tied to nearby stakes. For group plantings, trellises are used. If this isn't done, the thin shoots will break under the heavy inflorescences.
Preparing for winter	The shoots are cut almost to ground level and mulched with a thick layer of humus.

Liatris is an easy-to-grow flower that will brighten up any garden. It pairs beautifully with a variety of plants. The key is to choose the right arrangement.