Liatris pycnostachya

Germination

Sow indoors or directly in spring. Sow indoors in autumn. Surface sow onto moist, well-drained seed compost. Just cover seed with a fine sprinkling or soil or vermiculite. Place in a polythene bag and cold stratify. Move to a fridge at -4-+4°C for 12 weeks. Remove to a propagator, ideal temp. 14-24°C. Keep moist, watering from the base only. Germination takes 3-4 weeks approx. from this point. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle to 8cm pots and grow on. Acclimatise and plant out as soon as frosts have passed. Autumn sown seeds should be overwintered indoors and planted out the following spring. Direct spring sowings should be into a prepared soil which has been raked to a fine tilth and watered. Thin seedlings as required.

Growing

Prefers a consistently moist soil in full or partial sun. Tall plants may require staking.

Cultivation

Deadhead spent flowers. Flower spikes may be left to offer winter interest in the garden. Propagate by seed or by division in autumn. Divide every 3-4 years. For cut flowers harvest the spikes in the morning. Use spikes which have 25% of flowers open.