Liatris ligulistylis 'Monarch'

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Liatris ligulistylis 'Monarch'

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Kemper Code: B468

Common Name: button snake root
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: August - September Bloom Data
Bloom Color: Deep rose purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low

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Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Somewhat tolerant of poor soils. Prefers dry, sandy or rocky, alkaline soils. Will grow taller in fertile loams, but may need staking. Intolerant of wet soils in winter. Tolerant of summer heat and humidity. This cultivar may not come true from seed.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

‘Monarch’ is a blazing star cultivar that is noted for its unusual ability to attract monarch butterflies. It is an upright, clump-forming perennial that typically grows to 2’ (infrequently to 3’) tall. Fluffy, thistle-like, deep rose-purple flower heads (each to 1.25”) appear on terminal columnar inflorescences atop erect, leafy flower stems. Stems rise up from basal tufts of narrow, lanceolate-oblong to oblanceolate, green leaves (to 6” long). Blooms in late summer to early fall. Liatris belongs to the aster family, with each flower head having only fluffy disk flowers (resembling “blazing stars”) and no ray flowers. Although the flowers of all species of liatris are sought out by butterflies, it is reported that the flowers of ‘Monarch’ are particularly attractive to Monarchs. Within an inflorescence, flower heads bloom somewhat at the same time, which makes this cultivar a good fresh cut flower for floral arrangements.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for thrips.

Uses:

Good small native liatris for rock gardens. Mass in native plant gardens, cottage gardens and prairie areas. Also may be used in perennial borders. Adds vertical accent and late summer to fall bloom.