This makes the difference in general appearance more pronounced than it is between the wild species. Liatris spicata var. The blooms on the LP look more like the blooms on a L. Ligulystylis than they look like the blooms on an L. Spicata. Yeah, the L. spicata I've seen in the wild here in TN is easily 3-4 ft tall. Common names are from state and federal lists. Liatris spicata can be distinguished from Liatris pycnostachya (prairie blazing star) by the fact that the tiny leaflets (bracts) surrounding the base of the flower buds lie smooth along the bud rather than curve off of it as in L. pycnostachya. I see what you mean. Click on a place name to get a complete protected plant list for that location. It has been three weeks or more since I planetd them. The pycnostachya I ordered in 2004 all seem to be separate so far. Accept I am not so familiar with the technical differences in the flowers of these two species, but here is how I generally tell them apart: 1. Join now and start creating your dream garden! All of our species are in cultivation. I grow four different kinds of liatris and I would never consider the seed or self sowed seedling plants from any of them to be true to the parent plant. The Liatris ligulistylis are planted in a wetter part of the garden and do not appear to be doing anything. Noteworthy Characteristics. $4.19 shipping. With vivid magenta-purple flower spikes growing up to a foot long, 'Floristan Violet' is a staple in cutting gardens and bouquets and the perfect choice for garden beds in need of a strong vertical accent. I checked all mine and they are definatly L. spicata. On the other hand, in the top picture of Liatris pycnostachya on this page and in the top picture of Liatris spicata on this page, the lower bracts are inconspicuous on both species once those lower flowers have opened. Thank you kwoods. Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. This is an excellent Liatris species to plant in wet-medium prairies and perennial gardens; butterflies, bees, … The Liatris genus contains 37 members, other well known species include Liatris aspera (Rough blazing star) and Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star). Note this is the default cart. To use the website as intended please  They remind me of the bits on an artichoke that you tear off and eat. Great Plant CombinationIdeas Liatris pycnostachya: outer involucral bracts acute to short- acuminate at apex, squarrose, and axis of capitulescence usually hirsute (vs. L. spicata, with the outer involucral bracts obtuse to rounded at apex, erect, and axis of capitulescence usually glabrous ). Liatris Planting Information. I do think that the difference in the extent of leaves up into the flower stalk may be a more reliable difference between the two species. In contrast, spicata is popular in gardens and (I think) the shorter cultivars are most commonly planted. The carrot-flavored roots have inulin, a polysaccharide also found in Jerusalem artichoke roots. I live in southern Minnesota and planted 36 live Liatris ligulistylis in mid-June along with 4 Liatris pycnostachya and 3 Liatris spicata. Add to Any Collection My Collection. My established liatris of varied species (including spicata) are just now peeking their heads up. Liatris is a native perennial notable for its spiky bright purple bottlebrush flowers borne atop the lush grass-like leaves that blossom in the late summer. Season: Summer (Mid,Late) Height: 2' - 5' (60cm – 150cm) Spread: 1' - 2' (30cm – 60cm) Fragrant: N/A Liatris spicata 'Alba' (Gayfeather) Add to Collection. mucronata (Texas Blazing Star), Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star), Liatris spicata 'Floristan Violet' (Gayfeather), Liatris spicata 'Floristan Weiss' (Gayfeather). Prefers average to moist, organically rich soils in full to part sun. Similar to L. spicata but usually hairier. ... liatris spicata. Found growing in prairies or grasslands, liatris is also at home in the garden, but can liatris grow in pots? Yes, liatris can grow in pots and, in fact, growing liatris plants in containers makes a show-stopping tableau. Clarification of the clarification (since I'm anal): the involucral bracts (also called "phyllaries") occur at the base of the flower heads, not at the base of individual flowers (of which there are generally at least a half-dozen per head in Liatris, up to hundreds in other things in the aster family, like sunflowers). The leaves of pycno are more exclusively basal, with no prominent leaves in the portion of the stem where the flowers occur. pycnostachya prairie blazing star Legal Status. Also known as blazing star and gayfeather, liatris plants bloom from late summer into fall in full sun gardens. ), also known as blazing star, gayfeather, or colic root (due to their historic medicinal use as intestinal antispasmodics), are perennials native to America’s prairies. Around here, pycnostachya is the common wild species and it is usually very tall. 50. On the other hand, the differences in phyllaries shown on those pages are fairly obvious... My experience with these two species is that Liatris pycnostachya is taller than Liatris spicata in the same growing conditions, but the heights are variable enough to make height a very poor identifying characteristic. Thanks for reading. liatris pycnostachya. The leaves are linear, grass-like, 11 to 22 cm (4 1 ⁄ 4 to 8 3 ⁄ 4 in) long and 4 to 10 mm (0.16 to 0.39 in) wide. It must be shorter lived than the others. Liatris spicata Growing and Maintenance Tips. Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device. Liatris is also known as Gayfeather in some regions, and is a unique perennial wildflower of the American prairie. Flower spikes are 2 to 5 feet tall. Well, I haven't seen Liatris pycnostachya, but the Liatris spicata I've seen in Indiana were generally around 4 feet high, so I don't think height is always going to work. Plants are native to the prairies, marsh regions, and meadows of North America. In contrast, spicata is popular in gardens and (I think) the shorter cultivars are most commonly planted. This species hybridizes with L. pycnostachya. I have no idea what that means.... Could someone help me out please. Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star) Add to Collection. Blooming from mid-summer to autumn, this clump-forming perennial belongs to the Asteraceae, or aster family, and the Liatris genus is composed of approximately 40 species. :). Sounds like you will need to use the differences in the bracts to make a sure identification. One of the tallest blazing stars, Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star) is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting fluffy spikes densely packed with deep rose-purple flowers. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. Botanical Name: Liatris spicata: The day I posted my concern I went out and there they are. Spread: 12 to 18 inches. Evening sun. I'll be watching tho. I have spicata, short and tall. This makes the difference in general appearance more pronounced than it is between the wild species. I am tickled. Pycno gets much taller -- often over four feet. A standard component of butterfly gardens, water feature margins, rain gardens, and naturalized moist prairies. The central stem is light green to purplish green, terete or slightly ridged, and glabrous to sparsely pubescent. with Liatris, Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. that have reddish stems, while surrounding plants (same species) do not. The alternate leaves are up to 10" long and about 1/3" (8 … L. pycnostachya was used by native Americans to treat sore throats and diseases of the kidneys. Native to the prairies and meadows of Eastern North American, L. spicata is a hardy perennial that produces narrow, grass-like leaves and tall spikes of vibrant purple, bottlebrush flowers. Here is a link that might be useful: Liatris Pictures, Wow, thank you. This is a distinctive, strictly North American genus, with very showy heads. 25 Seeds of Liatris aspera - Rough Blazing Star. The flower stalks reach 60 to 120 cm (2 to 4 ft) in height, or rarely to 180 cm (6 ft). Cookies, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Liatris ligulistylis (Rocky Mountain Blazing Star), Liatris punctata var. I couldn't see any difference but the book said it had "reflexed, long-tipped involucral bracts." Add to Any Collection My Collection. Spicata is shorter, typically about two feet. To 5 feet tall and 1 feet wide, with light purple blossoms tightly clustered in dense spikes. It flowers from July through September on … Liatris pycnostachya, commonly known as prairie blazing star, is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family. I have seen individual plants of Liatris spp. The genus Liatris belongs to the giant plant family Asteraceae, also known as Compositae. To be honest, I'm not too sure what you're referring to when it comes to the leaves. To 35 feet tall, 12 feet wide, with bright purple flowers. This species is not easy to distinguished from L. spicata. What native plants are you growing this year. Liatris. Liatris spicata. Patience, the ground is still warming and yours are new. Additionally, the time for 50% of seeds to germinate, and almost all seed germination will be greatly reduced.