Liatris
Liatris, also known as Blazing star or Gay feather, is a native perennial of the Kansas prairie. There are several different species of this flower that are native to our area and they range in height from a foot up to five feet in height with tufts of fine, grass like leaves that are whorled around the main stem. The flowers are mostly purple but can occasionally be white and open from the top of the spike to the bottom which is unique to compared to other spike flowers. This perennial is a low maintenance plant that grows in full sun to part shade and prefers a slightly damp soil but will tolerate heat and drought. Liatris has a dense fibrous root system with corms and can slowly form small colonies via the corms but is also grown easily from seed. Use this perennial in a native pollinator garden in masses for the best use of the blooms. You can also use it singularly in a formal garden. Liatris is fairly insect and deer resistant but can have some leaf spot diseases especially if planted too closely to allow for adequate air flow. If planted in too rich of soil this native can flop over however they usually don’t require any support.
