Liatris spicata

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Liatris spicata
Liatris spicata 002.JPG
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Liatris
Species:
L. spicata
Binomial name
Liatris spicata
Liatris spicata 003.JPG
Liatris spicata - MHNT Liatris spicata MHNT.BOT.2012.10.32.jpg
Liatris spicata - MHNT

Liatris spicata, the dense blazing star, prairie feather, gayfeather [1] or button snakewort, [2] is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America [3] where it grows in moist prairies and sedge meadows.

Contents

The plants have tall spikes of purple flowers resembling bottle brushes or feathers that grow 1–5 ft (0.30–1.52 m) tall. The species grows in hardiness zones 3 - 8, [4] stretching from the Midwest to the East Coast, eastern and western Canada. [3]

Common varieties include 'Alba' and 'Floristan White' which are white-flowering cultivars [5] on 18 in (46 cm) tall spikes, 'Callilepsis' with long stems good for cut flowers, 'Floristan Violett' with a strong stem and thick, violet flower spikes preferred by florists, and 'Kobold' which stays small in size with deep purple flowers. [6]

Liatris spicata var. resinosa is found in the southern part of the species's natural range. [7] The variable plants have only 5 or 6 flowers per head and the heads are more widely spaced on the stems; these differences are more pronounced when the plants are found in drier and coastal habitats. [8]

Cultivation

Liatris spicata is a garden flower in many countries around the world, grown for its showy purple flowers (pink or white in some cultivars). They bloom in July through August or September, depending on where in their range they are located. [6] [9]

Under cultivation it is found under many names including button snakewort, Kansas gay feather, blazing star, Liatris callilepis. [10]

Full sun is best and well-drained soil is preferred to prevent rot, though the plants do prefer moist soil. However, the plants do not tolerate wet soil in winter. [11] The plants can tolerant some shade as well as drought but need regular watering during the first growing season to build strong roots.

Plants can be grown from corms (similar to bulbs and tubers) or from seed, or the plants can be bought at garden centres or nurseries.

To grow from seed, start in early spring either indoors or outside. Germination takes 20–45 days. When leaves appear, divide in large clumps. Plants should be spaced 12-15 inches apart. Spacing allows sun and air to help with potential diseases such as stem rot ( Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ), leaf spots (Phyllosticta liatridis,Septoria liatridis), rusts (Coleosporium laciniariae,Puccinia liatridis), powdery mildew ( Erysiphe cichoracearum ), and wilt ( Verticillium albo-atrum ). When growing from seed, blooms do not usually appear until the second year. [12]

If amending the soil, the plants prefer soil with high levels of calcium and magnesium and low levels of potassium and phosphorus. [11]

In gardens, Liatris spicata works well planted individually, as a border, and because of its vertical form, it contrasts well with mounded and broad-leaf plants. In informal gardens, large sweeps of plantings work well. [6]

The flowers either fresh or dried work well as cut flowers [4] [6] and have a vanilla scent when dried. [13]

Role in ecosystems

Liatris spicata is excellent for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. These include butterflies such as the monarch, tiger swallowtail, clouded sulphur, orange sulphur, gray hairstreak, Aphrodite fritillary, painted lady, red admiral, and wood nymphs. The flowers attract bumblebees, digger bees (Anthophorini), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), leaf-cutting bees ( Megachile spp.), skippers, and birds including hummingbirds. [6] [9] [14] Caterpillars of the rare glorious flower moth (Schinia gloriosa) and liatris flower moth ( Schinia sanguinea ) feed on the flowers and seeds. [15] Caterpillars of the liatris borer moth ( Carmenta anthracipennis ) bore through the plant's stems. Groundhogs, rabbits, and voles also eat the plants. [16]

Deer are less likely to eat Liatris spicata than other plants and therefore considered deer-resistant, although deer will eat almost anything when food is scarce. [15] [17]

Medicinal uses

Liatris spicata was historically used medicinally by Native Americans for its carminative, diuretic, stimulant, sudorific, and expectorant properties. [18] [19] [20] In addition to these uses, the Cherokee used the plant as an analgesic for pain in the back and limbs and the Menominee used it for a weak heart. The root of the plant is the part most often used. [19] [20] Native Americans also used the plant to treat swelling, abdominal pain and spasms/colic, and snake bites. [6] [8] Currently, the plant is used for a sore throat by gargling an infusion, as an herbal insect repellent, and in potpourri. [21]

Related Research Articles

<i>Liatris</i> Genus of flowering plants

Liatris, commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America. Some species are used as ornamental plants, sometimes in flower bouquets. They are perennials, surviving the winter and resprouting underground corms.

<i>Liatris aspera</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris aspera is a perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae family that is found in central to eastern North America in habitats that range from mesic to dry prairie and dry savanna.

<i>Viola sororia</i> Species of flowering plant in family Violaceae

Viola sororia, known commonly as the common blue violet, is a short-stemmed herbaceous perennial plant native to eastern North America. It is known by a number of common names, including common meadow violet, purple violet, woolly blue violet, hooded violet, and wood violet.

<i>Uvularia grandiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Uvularia grandiflora, the large-flowered bellwort or merrybells, is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae, native to eastern and central North America.

<i>Liatris pycnostachya</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris pycnostachya, the prairie blazing star, cattail gayfeather or cattail blazing star, is a perennial plant in the Asteraceae family that is native to the tallgrass prairies of the central United States.

<i>Geum triflorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Geum triflorum, commonly known as prairie smoke, old man's whiskers, torchflower, three-sisters, long-plumed purple avens, lion's beard, or three-flowered avens, is a spring-blooming perennial herbaceous plant of the Rosaceae family. It is a hemiboreal continental climate species that is widespread in colder and drier environments of western North America, although it does occur in isolated populations as far east as New York and Ontario. It is particularly known for the long feathery plumes on the seed heads that have inspired many of the regional common names and aid in wind dispersal of its seeds.

<i>Eupatorium altissimum</i> Species of flowering plant

Eupatorium altissimum, with the common names tall thoroughwort and tall boneset, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family with a native range including much of the eastern and central United States and Canada. It is a tall plant found in open woods, prairies, fields, and waste areas, with white flowers that bloom in the late summer and fall.

<i>Erigeron annuus</i> Species of flowering plant

Erigeron annuus, the annual fleabane, daisy fleabane, or eastern daisy fleabane, is a species of herbaceous, annual or biennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

<i>Liatris acidota</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris acidota, also known as the Gulf Coast gayfeather, sharp blazing star and sharp gayfeather, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus Liatris. It is native to Louisiana and Texas in the United States, where it is found in habitats that include coastal prairies, dry prairie and savanna, where it is found in sandy to clay soils.

<i>Liatris aestivalis</i> Species of plant

Liatris aestivalis, also known as the summer gayfeather, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus Liatris. The specific epithet, aestivalis, is derived from Latin and means "pertaining to the summer".

Liatris bracteata, commonly known as the bracted blazing star, or South Texas gayfeather, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Texas in the United States, where it is found in coastal prairies, roadsides, and along railroads with clay or sandy loam soils. This species is of conservation concern in its native range due to habitat loss.

<i>Liatris chapmanii</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris chapmanii, also known as Chapman's blazing star or Chapman's gayfeather, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus Liatris. It is native to Alabama, Florida and Georgia in the United States, where it is found in habitats such as dunes, beach strands, sand ridges, fields and roadsides, it also grows in longleaf pine savannas and other scrub habitats.

Liatris cokeri, also known as Coker's gayfeather and sandhills blazing star, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus Liatris. It is native to North and South Carolina in the United States, where it is found in habitats such as sand ridges and sandy fields to roadsides; it is also found in turkey-oak and longleaf pine-oak plant communities. It blooms in late summer with purple flower heads.

<i>Liatris compacta</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris compacta, sometimes called Arkansas gayfeather, is a herbaceous plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus Liatris. It is native to the Ouachitas of west-central Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma in the central United States, where it is found growing in habitats such as rocky ridges, bluffs, hillsides, weathered sandstone, and open woods. It blooms in June to September and may start blooming as early as May, it has purple flowers grouped into heads. It was known as a variety of Liatris squarrosa as Liatris squarrosa var. compacta until relatively recently.

<i>Liatris cylindracea</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris cylindracea is a plant species in the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America, where its populations are concentrated in the Midwestern United States. It is found in habitats such as prairies, limestone and sandstone outcroppings, bluffs, barrens, glades, woodlands and dunes.

Liatris cymosa, also known as Aggie-land gayfeather or branched blazing star, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus Liatris. It is native to east central Texas in North America, where it is found in habitats such as post oak woodlands, fields, fence rows, woodland openings and edges, in clay soils. It blooms in mid to late summer with purple flower heads. It is of conservation concern due to habitat loss.

<i>Liatris elegans</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris elegans, known commonly as pinkscale gayfeather, pinkscale blazingstar, and elegant blazingstar, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the southeastern United States as far west as Texas and Oklahoma.

<i>Liatris ohlingerae</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris ohlingerae is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Florida blazing star, Florida gayfeather, scrub blazing star, and sandtorch. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where it occurs only on the Lake Wales Ridge along with many other rare plants. It is threatened by the loss and degradation of its habitat, and it is federally listed as an endangered species.

<i>Liatris punctata</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris punctata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names dotted gayfeather, dotted blazingstar, and narrow-leaved blazingstar. It is native to North America, where it occurs throughout the plains of central Canada, the central United States, and northern Mexico.

<i>Liatris ligulistylis</i> Species of flowering plant

Liatris ligulistylis is a flowering plant of the family Asteraceae, native to the central United States and central Canada.

References

  1. ↑ "Liatris spicata". Gardenia.net. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Liatris spicata". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  3. 1 2 USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Liatris spicata". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team.
  4. 1 2 "Liatris spicata". Plant Finder. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  5. ↑ Perry, Leonard. "Liatris". University of Vermont.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mahr, Susan (2010). "Wisconsin Horticulture". Wisconsin Horticulture. University of Wisconsin-Extension. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  7. ↑ Nesom, Guy L. (2006). "Liatris spicata". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 21. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  8. 1 2 Henry A. Gleason (1963). The New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada: Illustrated by Original Drawings. Vol. 3. New York Botanical Garden. p. 498.
  9. 1 2 "Liatris spicata". Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas at Austin . Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  10. ↑ "Liatris spicata Button snakewort Kansas gay feather Blazing star callilepis calilepis Gayfeather Care Plant Varieties & Pruning Advice".
  11. 1 2 Elmer B. Hadley and Donald A. Levin (May–June 1967). "Habitat Differences of Three Liatris Species and Their Hybrid Derivatives in an Interbreeding Population". American Journal of Botany. 54 (5): 550–559. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1967.tb10676.x. JSTOR   2440658.
  12. ↑ "Master Gardener Program". University of Wisconsin-Extension.
  13. ↑ Sanford, J. A. (1879). "Notes from Toledo, Ohio". Botanical Gazette. 4 (10): 219. doi: 10.1086/325289 . JSTOR   2995070.
  14. ↑ "Pollinator-Friendly Plants for the Northeast United States" (PDF). USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
  15. 1 2 (http://www.clarity-connect.com), Clarity Connect. "Liatris spicata Dense Blazing Star from American Beauties". www.abnativeplants.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  16. ↑ Hilty, John (2020). "Marsh Blazingstar (Liatris spicata)". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  17. ↑ "Deer Resistant Native Plants Wildflowers and Shrubs". www.easywildflowers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases". 1992–2016.
  19. 1 2 Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey (1975). Cherokee Plants and Their Uses -- A 400 Year History. Sylva, N.C.: Herald Publishing Co. p. 27.
  20. 1 2 Densmore, Francis (1932). "Menominee Music" . SI-BAE Bulletin (#102 ed.). p.  129.
  21. ↑ "Bureau of Land Management Anasazi Heritage Center Plant Guide" (PDF). Dolores, CO. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-10.
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