Liatris

I bought some white and purple bulbs this year. I think that I planted some about four year ago when I was living in Savannah, and they bloomed the first year. In reading back post on this, someone said that they don't bloom the first year. Will I have to wait until next summer for blooms?

A couple more contradictions I ran into. In several post, this as referred to as a short blooming flower - two weeks or less, yet in another it was called long blooming. I'm not sure if they were referring to different varieties since these seemed to be general comments.

Finally, I am wondering if I can just pot these bulbs up and transplant them into my garden. My hope is that they might bloom a little sooner, if they are going to this year. Although, looking at the calender, I would be able to put these into the garden in a few weeks, if it didn't rain on the weekend. If I do put them in pots, do they need to be on the heat mat and under the lights?

I'm also trying to grow some purple liatris from seed, but it doesn't look good so far.

There are many species of Liatris, the most common is Liatris spicata. Since it grows as far north as Z3 I would suggest you go ahead and plant it now, if your ground can be worked. I wouldn't worry about what is will do this year, patient gardening is always best.

Growing plants from seeds can be a surprising process.

Hi, pennefeather,

I have grown liatris spicata (kobold) from bulbs/corms for the past several years. I planted these in the garden in springtime and they came up late but OK. I also purchased plants at the garden center at end of season sales.

I think if you started the bulbs early in pots indoors that would give them a head start. You wouldn't necessarily have to use heat mats unless you really wanted to speed things up. My spicatas bloom for about 2 weeks.

You could try planting a few bulbs in pots for earlier bloom and others right in the ground outside and that would give you a staggered bloom sequence. One year I planted the bulbs in the fall--some rotted through the winter, others came up. Some people find them invasive year to year, but my garden tends to be damp through the year and the bulbs often succumb to that.

I try to do a little staggering for a longer bloom season since I love them in my summer garden. I also have 4 other kinds of liatris but they are more 'wild flowery' and not commonly seen available for sale in garden centers.

I have read that liatris spicata take three years to grow from seed. I suppose if you used heat mats and grow lights you could shorten that cycle.

I think liatris are becoming more 'fashionable' for the summer garden these days. And the gold finches love them.

Sounds to me like one conflict in info may have been seed opposed to bulbs. Liatris generally will bloom the 2nd or 3rd year from seed, but bulbs I've bought (even cheap, small ones) have flowered the first year. I don't think you'd get much of a head start by potting them (perhaps a little), so I'd go the 1 step route and just get 'em in the ground. When did you sow your seed? Bet they would be a good one to wintersow.

tabasco,
what is the beautiful, tall pinkish/purple plant in the left background?
Kathy

I'm planting the liatris today!

After I go to sleep. (

Kathy, I think this is the purple flower you asked about:

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1655/index.html

Many states have banned Purple loosestrife because of invading natural wetlands, so you'd want to check your state first. While I have seen huge naturalized expanses of it in PA and NY, I've never seen it naturalized in KY. Actually, I've killed it twice, lol.

Gemini,
Thanks, it's beautiful. Tobasco- is that it?

Kathy

yes, she says sheepishly....

I want some ! Tabasco - got some for trade?

You'll probably have some soon whether you want it or not. Virginia is one of the states doing battle with this plant, they spend a lot of tax dollars trying to eradicate it.

Sorry, can't send it in the mail. Anyway, I am embarrassed/ashamed that I have it in the garden and don't want others to succumb to its (evil) charms.

Although many landscapers make the case that the hybrid lloosestrife garden varieties are not invasive. Others say 'not true'.