Liatris pycnostachya

CAT TAIL GAYFEATHER

Liatris pycnostachya
CAT TAIL GAYFEATHER

Liatris pycnostachya is one of the tallest of all the beautiful Liatris family.
And with the longest, most slender and stately spires.

Tall & stately with long cat tails

It is well named as the Cat Tail Gayfeather, as these regal flowers are extremely fuzzy, like a cat with it’s tail in full fluff.
Rich deep rose-lilac blooms continue to unfurl through summer & autumn.  

Impressive vase flowers

Liatris pycnostachya provides excellent cut flowers of splendid stature, and is commercially farmed for the floristry trade.
The spires also dry extremely well for large arrangements.
Interestingly the flowers open from the top of the spike, down, and they last extremely well in a vase.

Majestic garden display

The tall, slender fuzzy lances provide an excellent vertical accent and vivid colour in the summer and autumn garden display.

Easily grown & low maintenance

Liatris  is a hardy, easily grown & low maintenance plant.
And reliably grown from seed to mature bulbs in quick time.
Once planted, bulbs are best left in the ground. Where they will steadily increase and naturalize beautifully into neat, grassy clumps of foliage.
So there is never any need to lift and store these hardy perennial bulbs. Instead just leave them alone to get on with it.

A blaze of golden autumn foliage 

The fine green foliage is a handy garden contrast from spring on. Then contributes a blaze of golden autumn foliage colour too.   

Tolerates summer heat & humidity

Plant Liatris pycnostachya in Full Sun to Part Shade.
Where this hardy perennial bulb tolerates frost well in winter.
And is also resistant to summer heat and humidity.

Water-wise & drought hardy

If necessary, the Cat Tail Gayfeather is not a thirsty plant,.
So it is a water-wise choice if water is limited.
Being drought resistant and requiring minimal care.

But can also tolerate wetter soil

However Liatris pycnostachya is one member of the ever beautiful Liatris family that can tolerate wetter or clay soil if necessary.
Cat Tail Gayfeather is not a particularly fussy plant and is easily pleased.
It is better grown without too much fertilizer, and is happy in poorer soils.
Happily it is rarely if ever troubled by pests and diseases.

Up to 1.5m. High in majestic flower spires x 60cm. Wide neat clump of grassy foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

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

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

Continue to keep the punnet moist in a warm, well-lit place (not in direct sunlight).
Because temperatures of 15-20°C approx. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

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 warm, well-lit place at 15-20°C approx. Continue to keep moist.

SEED COUNT: 20 seeds per pack.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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