Propagation of Liatris Spicata for Cut Flowers

Soil Preparation

• Liatris performs well in full sunlight and average, well-drained soil. However, the plant prefers rich, sandy, slightly acidic soil with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5. Spade the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches, and then dig in 3 to 4 inches of organic matter such as compost or decomposed manure. Mix a slow-release, 5-10-5 fertilizer into the soil to provide Liatris and other blooming plants with the nutrients needed to produce flowers for cutting throughout the season. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of 2 pounds of fertilizer for every 100 square feet of planting area.

Division

• To divide Liatris in the spring, insert a garden fork into the ground about 6 inches from the plant. Dig deep and lift the clump from the ground, working carefully to preserve as many roots as possible. Pull the clump apart into smaller sections, each with a healthy root system and at least four or five shoots. Avoid cutting the plant apart, as cutting damages the roots. Plant the divisions in the prepared soil as soon as possible. Be sure to plant the Liatris at the same depth, as planting too deep may cause the plant to rot. Water immediately and keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy until new growth appears, indicating the plant has rooted. Thereafter, provide about 1 inch of water every week throughout spring and summer.

Seeds

• Plant Liatris seeds directly into prepared garden soil in fall or early winter, or plant the seeds in spring after chilling them in the refrigerator for four to six weeks. Sow the seeds in shallow furrows and cover them with soil no more than four times the diameter of the seeds. You can also plant Liatris corms, or rhizomes, which are usually available in garden centers or nurseries. Water the area as needed to keep the soil lightly moist for the first year, but don't overwater, because the plants tend to rot in soggy soil.

Cutting Gardens

• Liatris combined with other colorful, sun-loving perennials or annuals creates a cutting garden that provides armloads of flowers all season long. The subtle shades of Liatris provide contrast with yellow or gold flowers, such as goldenrod (Solidago spp.) or black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta), both hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. Similarly, Liatris is complemented by plants with lavender or pink flowers, such as purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), perennial in USDA zones 3 through 9, or annual cosmos (Cosmos spp.). Cut flowers for bouquets often, since removing blooms prompts the plants to continue flowering all season. Clip off wilted flowers to prevent the plants from going to seed.