Garden designers often advocate plant a compounding of plants for the most pleasing effect in the garden . They advise , for example , combine rounded plant forms , such as catmint or daylily with unsloped , erect growers . One such industrial plant is blazing star , also known as Gayfeather(Liatris ) . Hardier than delphinium or foxglove , blazing star is a low - maintenance choice for erect height in the perennial garden . This plant , aboriginal to the easterly and southern U.S. produces pink or purple blurry spikes of flower atop grass - similar foliage . The flower spikes range from 2 to 5 foot high .
Blazing star is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 . Historically , the plant was sometimes called colic source , because it was used by Native Americans and early settler to relieve indigestion . It looks best in a free-and-easy recurrent bed . Combine it with other bad perennials and annuals , such as day lily , black - eyed Susans , coreopsis , lamb ’s ear and Echinacea . Another advantage of Blazing Star is its bloom metre . Blazing star blooms from mid - summer to fall , when many other perennials are fading .
Growing Conditions for Blazing Star Flowers
blaze star is an light perennial to grow , but it must have full sunshine . In shade , it does n’t flower well and it is more susceptible to disease . Give it well - drained , light soil . It ’s not particular about pH grade , as long as the stain drain well . Blazing Star grows from corm or tuberous roots and it does n’t tolerate sozzled feet .
Sow Blazing Star from seed in the fall in warm climates or in other outpouring . They need 45 days to burgeon forth and uprise best when display to cold for 2 to 3 month prior to warm atmospheric condition . Plants arise from seed will not bloom the first year . Keep the soil moist to the jot . Alternatively , you could constitute potted baby’s room plant in tardy spring . Plant Blazing Star 2 to 3 feet aside . The plant disperse slowly , but finally becomes 3 to 5 feet all-inclusive . One plant is usually enough for most garden spaces . Blazing Star self - sows and also spreads through underground roots . split it every 2 to 3 geezerhood as growth slows and the plant life becomes crowded .
Blazing Star prefers more or less moist to dry out circumstance . In moist soils , it grows more speedily and blooms more prolifically . However , once instal it tolerates drought experimental condition , along with poor stain . Fertilize Blazing Star in the leap if growth is wearisome . In copious soil , it may not need any fertilizer at all . feed it with an all - purpose fertilizer , grant to package directions .
Pests and Diseases
Blazing Star , like many aboriginal plants , is resistant to cervid . This does n’t necessarily undertake that deer wo n’t eat it , but it sure increases the betting odds that they ’ll forget it alone . If deer are a problem , plant it with other deer - resistant perennials , such as Shasta daisy , empurpled coneflower or Russian sage .
Blazing Star is broadly speaking trouble - free , but it does have a few likely pests . In blistering , humid conditions , you may acknowledge foliage spot or rusting . Leaf spot , as the name implies , causes blackened , brown or xanthous bit on the leaves . Rust causes orange or red spots , which unfold . Another common problem is powdery mildew , which make a white film to form on the leaves .
To preclude these diseases , industrial plant Blazing Star at least 12 inch aside so aura circulates freely . Divide the plant when it becomes crowded . water supply with dipsomaniac hoses or drip mould systems or else of overhead sprinklers . Do n’t work in the garden while it ’s wet because wet leaves spread disease . Rake up and throw out any pathological leaves and cut the plant life back in the fall so diseases do n’t overwinter . If disease are severe , spray with a fungicide labeled to treat the specific trouble .
Varieties
Blazing Star comes in several smorgasbord . Spike Gayfeather ( Liatris spicata)is typically diminished than other cultivar , spring up to about 2 to 3 infantry high . ‘ Kobold ’ is another compact miscellany , growing only 18 inches in high spirits . ‘ Floristan Violett ’ has strong stems and cryptical purplish flower . It is often used by florist in flowered musical arrangement . ‘ Alba ’ is an unusual motley with flower plumage of virgin White River .
Check out the following resources for more info :
Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistancefrom Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Gayfeatherfrom the University of Nebraska - Lincoln
When she ’s not writing about gardening , food and canning , Julie Christensen enjoys spending time in her gardens , which include perennial , vegetable and fruit trees . She ’s written one C of horticulture clause for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several tocopherol - books .
