Liatris spicata

‘Floristan White’

WHITE GAYFEATHER

Liatris spicata ‘Floristan White’
WHITE GAYFEATHER

Impressive feathery bottlebrush spires continue to unfurl in summer & autumn, like white lances on Liatris spicata ‘Floristan White’.
Plus ‘Floristan White’ gives excellent cut flowers.
So it is commercially farmed for the floristry trade.

But it also gives a handy and hardy garden display, especially as it struts it’s stuff in the late summer and autumn, when many other bloomers have given up with a gasp in the heat.
Interestingly the flowers open from the top of the spike, down.
So the stout spikes do look like fuzzy lances.

Liatris spicata ‘Floristan White’ is a hardy, easily grown & low maintenance plant.
And reliably grown from seed to mature bulbs.
Plus bulbs are best left in the ground, and will steadily increase and naturalize beautifully into neat, grassy clumps of foliage.
So the foliage is a handy garden contrast as well as the white flower lances.

Plant in Full Sun to Part Shade.
And this hardy perennial bulb tolerates hard frost well, and is resistant to heat.
Because Liatris spicata is not a thirsty plant, it is a water-wise choice if water is limited.
So it is drought resistant with minimal care.

Soil must be well drained, but otherwise Liatris is not particularly fussy.
Happily it is rarely if ever troubled by pests and diseases.

I believe it gained the common name of “Gayfeather” centuries before the modern use of the term Gay.

75cm H x 45cm W.

 SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow indoors at any time / or directly in garden late winter-spring.

INDOORS: Sow on surface of good quality seed raising mix. Then press the seeds gently into the mix. Now barely cover with mix, as light helps germination with these seeds.

Continue to keep the punnet moist in a warm, well-lit place.
Temperatures of 15-20°C approx. are optimum for fast germination.

Then seedlings emerge in 30-40 days approx.

But if the seeds are shy to break dormancy and sprout – then cling wrap the moist punnet & place in fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.

Then remove from fridge, unwrap punnet & return to a warm, well-lit place at 15-20°C approx. And continue to keep moist for germination.

SEED COUNT: 40 seeds per pack.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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