Liatris aspera
An herbaceous perennial with rough stems to a height of 2m with a strong growing, drought tolerant rosette of hairy green leaves. The stems carry small, narrow leaves and towards the tops, spikes of blooms up to 45cm long, made up of clusters of small purple flowers. Flowers in summer
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Neutral, Alkaline, AcidColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Green | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Purple | Green | ||
Autumn | Green | |||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright, Clump forming
- Genus
Liatris are herbaceous perennials with narrow, grass-like foliage and erect, bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers which open from the top down
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows in well-drained soil in full sun. May need staking in windier positions. Dislikes winter wet. See staking perennials
Propagation
Propagate from seed in autumn or by division in early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Prairie planting
- Wildlife gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
Pruning
Cut back at the end of the season to ground level
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to a rust and a leaf spot
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