Monarch Magic Collection

Growing Liatris (Gayfeather or Blazing Star)
This is a group of summer blooming native wildflowers that are easy-to-grow and provide an ample late season nectar supply for butterflies. Liatris are resistant to browsing rabbits. These perennials stay dormant later in the spring than many plants, so be patient. Because they naturally stay asleep longer into the spring, we will ship dormant plants early in the planting season. It’s ideal to plant dormant plants; don’t up-pot them for planting later in the growing season. Water in dormant plants thoroughly at planting time and water very sparingly, or not at all, until they begin to push new growth as the weather warms.

Preferred growing conditions:

Needs sandy/ gravelly and sandy loam type soils. Liatris unctate and L. mucronata will do fine in dry clay (I,e, clay soil in high spots, hillsides, raised beds).

Does best with a course textured mulch (pine needles, crushed pecan shells, small bark chips), as well as gravel when planted in a xeriscape.

Only requires deep but infrequent watering after the second growing season.

Plant in full, hot sun

Just a few handfuls of compost and Yum Yum Mix in the planting hole is enough. Don’t plant into a rich, highly amended soil.

Special comments:
• To encourage re-seeding, leave some flower spikes on the plants over the fall and winter months to disperse seeds.

Garden care:
• Fertilize Liatris just once in fall with Yum Yum Mix and Planters II.
• Liatris plants have long tap roots once established and should not be divided or transplanted once established.
• Leave Liatris varieties standing over the winter and cut back to 1-2" inches above the soil in mid- to late spring when the plants begin to wake up.

Planting and Caring for Pre-Planned Gardens & Collections

Soil Preparation: Remember that proper soil preparation is the key to healthy, vigorous blooming perennials. Use Yum Yum Mix and a high quality compost at recommended rates to prepare the soil. Inoculate the plant roots with Plant Success mycorrhizal inoculant. Planting: Plant according to the mature size of the plant. Don’t be tempted to put the plants too close based on their size in the pots. They’ll grow quickly and cover the space shown in the planting map. (Maps included only with Pre-Planned Gardens, not Collections.)

Fertilizing: Once annually in mid-fall, after plants begin to go dormant. Use Yum Yum Mix or Yum Yum Mix Winterizer at recommended rates to improve the soil and provide essential plant nutrients.Use it with high quality compost, mix half and half by volume and spread on top of the soil. Scratch it in lightly and water thoroughly. It is also beneficial to treat the plant roots with Plant Success® mycorrhizal root inoculant if you didn’t do so at planting time. (Inoculation only needs to be done once.)

Mulching: In arid climates mulching is very beneficial. Coarse textured composts, shredded leaves, pine needles and composted bark are all excellent mulch materials. Apply to a depth of 1-2 inches. Replenish annually (or as needed).

Tips For Growing Milkweed/Butterflyweed (Asclepias)

Asclepias (Milkweed) are sun loving plants that are essential perennials for monarch butterflies providing food for caterpillars and nectar for adult butterflies. They bloom from mid-summer into early fall and, with their milky sap, are resistant to rabbits and deer.

Asclepias can be divided into two groups for plant care; Asclepias tuberosa with orange (sometimes yellow) flowers and all the other species with pink (sometimes white) flowers.

1. Asclepias tuberosa (Orange Butterfly Weed) - this perennial stays dormant until later in the spring than many other plants, especially when grown in pots. It's fine to plant dormant plants; don't up-pot them for planting later in the growing season.

Need sandy or gravelly soils (except the Clay form which does well in heavier soils including dry clay.)

Does best with gravel mulches

After their second growing season, only requires deep but infrequent watering. Plant in full hot sun.

ust a few handfuls of compost and Yum Yum Mix added to the planting hole is enough. Don't plant into a rich, highly-amended soil.

Special comments:

When planting dormant plants, water thoroughly after planting and wait to water again until the plant comes into active growth, at which time a deep watering every week or so is adequate. Take care not to overwater young transplants.

Asclepias has a long, carrot-like tap root that should remain undisturbed after planting and should NOT ever be divided.

2. Asclepias speciosa, A. syriaca. A. incarnata (Milkweed) - these perennial species stay dormant later in the spring than many other plants, especially when they are grown in pots. It's fine to plant dormant plants; don't up-pot them for planting later in the growing season.

Preferred growing conditions:

These species grow in a wide range of soil types, including clay.

They don't need mulching (except in very hot climates).

These are moisture-loving perennials and do well in wet to moderately moist soil conditions.

Plant in full to part sun areas.

They like compost-enriched soils at planting time.

Special comments:

Asclepias syriaca and A. speciosa will spread to make big patches of plants and are best planted in parts of the landscape where they won't crowd out less vigorous plants. Not recommended for the prime spots in your perennial beds.

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) is a more refined grower and is fine to include in perennial beds.

Garden care:

• Fertilize Asclepias just once in fall with Yum Yum Mix and Planters II. - Naturalized plantings don't need additional fertilization.
• To encourage re-seeding and provide winter interest with their ornamental seed pods, leave the stems intact over the winter. In mid-spring, remove old stems just above ground level.
• All species of Asclepias are late to emerge in the spring, so don't be concerned if other perennials come up first and they remain dormant.