Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Liatris spicata

Blazingstar · Button Snakewort · Dense Blazing Star

Family AsteraceaeGenus Liatris

A clump of dense purple bottlebrush spikes standing above narrow grassy leaves
The whole plantHedwig StorchCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Bulb, Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.2-1.5 ft5-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Alabama, Arkansas, Caucasus, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 26, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 10 days.

80% germination in 4–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Liatris p. 44Public domain
Show the original text
Liatris (Asteraceae). L. spicata germ. 70D(30% in 6-9 w) and 40-70D(80% in 4-10 d), .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Liatris p. 44. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 63 days to germinate.

30% germination in 42–63 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Liatris p. 44Public domain
Show the original text
Liatris (Asteraceae). L. spicata germ. 70D(30% in 6-9 w) and 40-70D(80% in 4-10 d), .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Liatris p. 44. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page