LIATRIS pycnostachya (Thickspike Gayfeather)
Liatris Pycnostachya commonly known as ‘Thick-spike Gayfeather’, ‘Prairie Gayfeather’, ‘Prairie Blazing Star’, ‘Cat-tail Liatris’. One of the tallest blazing stars, is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting fluffy spikes densely packed with deep rose-purple flowers. This perennial is one of the few in the Liatris family that likes wet areas, so it is often used in wetland plantings. Butterflies, birds and bees find the pink spikes irresistible. Blooms in summers and belongs to the aster family with each flower head having only fluffy disk flowers and no rays.
| Number of Seeds | Max Coverage Area (Square Ft.) | |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5OZ | 3,750 | 100 |
| 1OZ | 7,500 | 200 |
| 1/4LB | 30,000 | 800 |
| 1/2LB | 60,000 | 1,600 |
| 1LB | 120,000 | 3,200 |
| 5LB | 600,000 | 16,000 |
Scientific Name: Liatris Pycnostachya
Common Name: Prairie Blazing Star, Prairie Gayfeather
Plant Type: Perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: Central and Southeast regions of United States
Height: 24-60 "
Spread: 12-24 "
Habitat: Moist to mesic black soil prairies, moist meadows near woodlands or rivers
Zone: 3 to 9
Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun
Blooming Season: Late Summer, Early Fall
Attracts: Birds, Humming birds, Butterflies, Honeybees
Resistant: Deer and Drought resistant
Flower Shape: Showy, Good cut
Flower Color: Lilac Purple, Deep-rose purple, Pink
Moisture: Average moist
Water Requirement: Dry to medium
Soil Type: Clay soil, Dry soil
Soil pH: Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Advantage: Low maintenance, Easy to grow
Uses: Cutting gardens, Wild gardens, Naturalized areas, Prairies or meadows, Perennial borders