Liatris (blazing star, gayfeathers)

We have multiple species from the genus Liatris that can grow in Norman gardens. They tend to bloom later in summer and through the fall.

Liatris squarrosa

This is usually the earliest bloomer of the four species I will discuss.

How to grow

From seeds

To sprout, these seeds require 60 days of cold stratification. You can reach that in one to three winters in a season by sowing in the fall (usually before December-ish). Alternately, you can put seeds in the freezer for those days or in the fridge on a damp paper towel in a bag or sealed container for the time period (some might begin to germinate or mold, go ahead and plant them either way).

From plants

I’ve only ever tried moving this out of a pot into the ground. Let me know if you’ve tried moving one of yours and whether it worked.

  • Root type: unknown
  • Divisible: unknnown
  • Diggable: unknown
  • Recovers from taproot cut: unknown

Where they live

Moisture

  • Dry: yes
  • Medium dry: yes
  • Average: yes
  • Medium wet: unknown
  • Wet: no
  • Aquatic: no
  • Spring flooding: unknown
  • Winter drought: yes
  • Summer drought: yes
  • Drought reaction: reduced growth

Light

  • Full shade: no
  • Part shade: yes
  • Full sun: yes

Soil types

  • Sand: yes
  • Loam: yes
  • Clay: unknown
  • Shallow: unknown
  • Containers: unknown
  • Potting soil: yes
  • Well drained: yes
  • Poorly drained: unknown
  • Nutrient rich: unknown
  • Nutrient poor: yes

Disturbance

  • Plant is tall and would probably get squished but grow back up if stepped on
  • Mowing - unclear how often it could handle but probably not more than once a season if that. let me know if you try it.

Thatch and leafy layers

  • Unknown

Temperature

  • This species has no above-ground parts in the winter. I’ve not tried growing them in pots, but they live farther north, so I assume they can handle all of our freezes.

Interactions with other plants

Can coexist easily with
  • Liatris aspera
  • Liatris punctata var mucronata
  • Echinacea angustifolia
  • Invasives
    • bermudagrass
    • crabgrass

Even in ideal habitat, can be outcompeted by

  • Helianthus maximiliani
  • Datura wrightii
  • Sorghastrum nutans
  • Solidago sp Saxon
  • Salvia greggii

In its ideal habitat, this species can outcompete

  • Buffalograss
  • Linum lewisii

Can this plant tolerate allelopathy by

  • Black walnut: unknown
  • Pines: unknown
  • Eastern red cedars: unknown
  • Invasives
    • Tree of heaven: unknown
    • Bradford pears: unknown
    • Garlic mustard: unknown

Where can I get Liatris squarrosa for Oklahoma?

  • Ask a neighbor if they have any!
  • Unclear if seedlings can be moved from ground, let me know.

Plants (potted or bare roots)

Oklahoma
  • I bought some in 2023 at Oklahoma Native Plant Nursery sale, but I can’t remember from whom.
Within one state
More than a state away

Seeds

Oklahoma
  • Unknown if available
Within one state
  • Unknown if available
More than a state away

Find more photos and information

Liatris pycnostachya

I think of this as the “damp” Liatris, although it still will flop and curl if it’s too wet. I have one by a rain barrel, and it flops and curls.

How to grow

From seeds

To sprout, these seeds require 60 days of cold stratification. You can reach that in one to three winters in a season by sowing in the fall (usually before December-ish). Alternately, you can put seeds in the freezer for those days or in the fridge on a damp paper towel in a bag or sealed container for the time period (some might begin to germinate or mold, go ahead and plant them either way).

From plants

I’ve only ever tried moving this out of a pot into the ground. Let me know if you’ve tried moving one of yours and whether it worked.

  • Root type: unknown
  • Divisible: unknown
  • Diggable: unknown
  • Recovers from taproot cut: unknown
  • Life span: biennial to perennial (personal observation)
  • Runners (stolons): no
  • Underground (rhizomes): no
  • Clump-forming: yes
  • Vogt Sociability rating: 1

Where they live

Moisture

  • Dry: no
  • Medium dry: no
  • Average: yes
  • Medium wet: yes
  • Wet: yes
  • Aquatic: no
  • Spring flooding: yes
  • Winter flooding: no
  • Winter drought: yes
  • Summer drought: yes
  • Drought reaction: reduced growth

Light

  • Full shade: no
  • Part shade: yes
  • Full sun: yes

Soil types

  • Sand: yes
  • Loam: yes
  • Clay: yes
  • Shallow: unknown
  • Containers: unknown
  • Potting soil: yes
  • Well drained: yes
  • Poorly drained: yes
  • Nutrient rich: flops?
  • Nutrient poor: yes

Disturbance

  • Plant is tall and would probably get squished but grow back up if stepped on
  • Mowing - unclear how often it could handle but probably not more than once a season if that. let me know if you try it.
  • Cut flowers: yes

Thatch and leafy layers

  • Unknown

Temperature

  • This species has no above-ground parts in the winter. I’ve not tried growing them in pots, but they live farther north, so I assume they can handle all of our freezes.

Interactions with other plants

Can coexist easily with

Even in ideal habitat, can be outcompeted by

  • Helianthus maximiliani
  • Sorghastrum nutans
  • Solidago sp Saxon

In its ideal habitat, this species can outcompete

  • Seedbox (Ludwigia)

Can this plant tolerate allelopathy by

  • Black walnut: unknown
  • Pines: unknown
  • Eastern red cedars: unknown
  • Invasives
    • Tree of heaven: unknown
    • Bradford pears: unknown
    • Garlic mustard: unknown

Where can I get Liatris squarrosa for Oklahoma?

  • Ask a neighbor if they have any!
  • Unclear if seedlings can be moved from ground, let me know.

Plants (potted or bare roots)

Oklahoma
  • Wild Roots (Choctaw, OK)
  • Sanctuary Gardens (Norman, OK)
  • Prairie Flora Co (OK)
  • Mann’s Greenhouses (OK)
  • Native Plant Nursery (Oklahoma City, OK)
Within one state
More than a state away

Seeds

Oklahoma
  • Unknown if available
Within one state
More than a state away

Find more photos and information

Liatris aspera

The middle bloomer of the three local dry Liatris (squarrosa earliest, then aspera, then mucronata latest at Monarch butterfly time). I think of it as a ssandy soils species.

How to grow

From seeds

To sprout, these seeds require 60 days of cold stratification and scarification by nicking seed coat. You can reach that in one to three winters in a season by sowing in the fall (usually before December-ish).

From plants

I’ve only ever tried moving this out of a pot into the ground. Let me know if you’ve tried moving one of yours and whether it worked.

  • Root type: corm
  • Divisible: unknown
  • Diggable: unknown
  • Recovers from main root cut: unknown
  • Life span: perennial
  • Runners (stolons): no
  • Underground (rhizomes): no
  • Clump-forming: yes
  • Vogt Sociability rating: 1

Where they live

Moisture

  • Dry: yes
  • Medium dry: yes
  • Average: yes
  • Medium wet: no
  • Wet: no
  • Aquatic: no
  • Spring flooding: no
  • Winter flooding: no
  • Winter drought: yes
  • Summer drought: yes
  • Drought reaction: reduced growth

Light

  • Full shade: no
  • Part shade: yes
  • Full sun: yes

Soil texture, drainage, and nutrients

  • Sand: yes
  • Loam: yes
  • Clay: no
  • Caliche: unknown
  • Rocky: yes
  • Gravel: unknown
  • Shallow: unknown
  • Containers: unknown
  • Potting soil: yes
  • Well drained: yes
  • Poorly drained: no
  • Nutrient rich: unknown
  • Nutrient poor: yes

Disturbance

  • Plant is tall and would probably get squished but grow back up if stepped on
  • Mowing - unclear how often it could handle but probably not more than once a season if that. let me know if you try it.
  • Cut flowers: yes for genus

Thatch and leafy layers

  • Unknown

Temperature

  • This species has no above-ground parts in the winter. I’ve not tried growing them in pots, but they live farther north, so I assume they can handle all of our freezes.

Interactions with other plants

Can coexist easily with
  • Echinacea angustifolia
  • Little Bluestem
  • Splitbeard bluestem
  • Liatris mucronata
  • Liatris squarrosa
  • Solidago rigidiscula
  • Flat-top goldenrod
  • Invasives
    • bermudagrass
    • crabgrass

Even in ideal habitat, can be outcompeted by

  • Helianthus maximiliani
  • Sorghastrum nutans
  • Salvia greggii

In its ideal habitat, this species can outcompete

  • Buffalograss
  • Little Barley
  • Prairie Bluets

Can this plant tolerate allelopathy by

  • Black walnut: unknown
  • Pines: unknown
  • Eastern red cedars: unknown
  • Invasives
    • Tree of heaven: unknown
    • Bradford pears: unknown
    • Garlic mustard: unknown

Where can I get Liatris aspera for Oklahoma?

  • Ask a neighbor if they have any!
  • Unclear if seedlings can be moved from ground, let me know.

Plants (potted or bare roots)

Oklahoma
Within one state
More than a state away

Seeds

Oklahoma
  • Unknown if available
Within one state
More than a state away

Find more photos and information

Liatris punctata var mucronata

To be added.

Other species sometimes sold here

I have not tried other species sometimes sold in Oklahoma, because they occur in the wild too far east or north for me to want to try them. L. squarrulosa might be worth trying but I haven’t seen it available locally.

What is the function of Liatris in the ecosystem…

in Oklahoma?

  • Monarchs love to feed on the flowers during fall migration.
  • They are a host plant for a specific flower-moth, [Schinia sanguinea](https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/36041. Very cute but very hard to find; they are well-camouflaged!
  • Nectar source for lots of pollinators when they bloom.

in general?

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