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About the time of year when many flowering perennials are winding down for the season in late summer, this North American native flowering perennial is just getting started. Liatris spicata 'Alba', commonly called White Blazing Star, is a sun-loving, tough but pretty plant featuring 4-foot rockets of bloom with densely-packed, long-lasting, fluffy white flowers. The flowers begin opening from the top of the flower spike downward, hence the common name "blazing star." The flowers are a favorite of butterflies and very popular with florists, which means they're great for cutting and use fresh or dried as a vertical accent in floral arrangements. Hardy and super easy to grow almost anywhere in the USA (Zones 3a-9b), it is relatively drought tolerant, pest and disease resistant, and deer ignore it. It is a lovely addition to the perennial border, meadow, or wildflower garden.

Note: In the first year after planting, Liatris usually produces one flush of smaller flowers earlier in the season (late spring to early summer). Depending on the climate, established plants will produce larger flowers later in the season and into fall.  

Growing 36 to 48 inches tall in clumps 18 to 24 inches wide, White Blazing Star Liatris is ideal for use as a vertical accent in small garden spaces and container gardens or groupings in perennial borders. It is also a fine addition to cut flower gardens, hummingbird gardens, butterfly gardens, pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, meadow gardens, wildflower gardens, native gardens, and white-theme gardens.

Floristan Weiss Liatris is easy to grow in most moist but well-drained soils of average to low fertility and full sun to mostly sun for best flowering and overall performance. Established plants are quite drought-tolerant. Constantly soggy or wet soil, especially during winter, can cause root rot. It is best to go very light with the fertilizer as too much can cause plants to become top-heavy, requiring staking to hold them up straight. 

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