![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rCeV0noLwtK6r2ftIqqrFz-gg_bYfdME5sGQlVUtSBA5xvfZpOlwb552_vR_Q3Yh3SOc7St4oL0Esc5szeEDes3QGNfWrPOi9Jwzhf80XMxIXeBhiluVummruxznDxoVj1mnXg/s320/Garden+7-12-2011_02.jpg)
(Gayfeather, Blazing Star)
.
I’ve written about Liatris before but this is another plant I’m adding to my easy perennial list. They are also deer resistant as opposed to, say, tasty beans.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ7G5EPvQBT3Ms2W4XD4DECT51973wJUp6LSnWGnHGTm_8zsL93Hf3iTWqynjD80jCE68VNizQ6f-RzMItg931seGrwEhGY41xMMautyJBF_fcA96s7CCjzNOQKVEM84WSuGKCw/s320/Garden+7-12-2011_12.jpg)
We returned home to find the pole beans chewed off at the bottom. The vines shriveled and died and made their contribution to the compost heap.
.
Anyway, the erect Liatris, at about 3 feet tall, looks good as a stand-alone display or as a backbone among other annuals and perennials.
Liatris is slow spreading and comes in several shades including white. It is easy to divide in spring and makes a nice cut flower.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0-_ylWCWolrgoj6Ww_ALnxQqcyfAqxe7Kg2-J0eyRgEjFdzeN_Z40_PQ_9Gfz_leswvBMFY0Esz8odCIpJ7kPB8qfi5T2gDieUNqLrNZ4LB_tj-2-P_1rUAO-pHpcDeeQO3dLA/s320/Garden+7-12-2011_05.jpg)
Liatris spicata ‘Floristan White’ (with Casablanca lilies)
.
The plants are drought tolerant after established – a good thing for this hot dry summer - and bloom from July into August. They will need to be dead-headed at the end of their bloom.
.
But, even if Liatris is deer resistant, it won’t prevent an animal from sitting on it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahhkjvNidTm6NM1RMTME2Kghqz1Wv_0O2nNCZR0BRuSC2UupcmDnavrkenfPJ2463YxhHepxq1ZjAmjb7cVs8urU73k7mYFf0JAYi5fOIIWeoA9CUX7ChWbbT_JVfg0JxuWj3XQ/s320/Garden+7-26-2011_06.jpg)
(Doug Green has expert advice on how to grow Liatris here.)
No comments:
Post a Comment