Liatris (gayfeather)

Liatris spicata

A corm. A swollen, solid stem base. No layers inside, just starchy tissue, with a papery tunic and buds on top.

Whole

Cut open

Store	Corm. Cut it in half: it is solid all the way through.
Depth	5-8 cm to the base of the corm
Spacing	15-20 cm apart
When	Plant in spring. Plant: 4 weeks before up to your last spring frost. Work out your dates.
Pets	Not on the ASPCA list: treat as unsafe to chew

About Liatris (gayfeather)

A spike of fluffy purple flowers from a corm that spreads into a clump.

Depth and spacing

Typical range: 5-8 cm deep and 15-20 cm apart. A general rule is to plant at two to three times the height of the corm; check the label for your variety. The drawing is to scale for 6.5 cm deep and 17.5 cm apart (the size of the organ is illustrative); try your own measurements.

When to plant

Plant in spring. Plant: 4 weeks before up to your last spring frost. These are rules of thumb for the northern hemisphere. Enter your frost dates for real dates.

Dividing and propagating

Divide the clumps in spring or autumn every few years; every piece needs a corm.

Lifting and storing

Cover with mulch where winters are hard.

Not on the ASPCA list

The ASPCA plant list has no entry we could match to this plant, so we cannot say it is safe. Keep pets from chewing it and digging up the corm, and ask your vet if in doubt. Search the ASPCA list.