How to plant liatris bulbs (corms): set each one flat side down with buds facing up, 2 to 3 inches deep and 12 to 15 inches apart, in full sun and well-drained soil. Plant in fall where winters are mild, or in spring after frost where soil stays cold and wet. Soak bare-root TN Nursery plants first.
This is TN Nursery's order and shipping help site, run by TN Nursery, the third-generation family nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, that has grown native trees and plants since 1959. Our Blazing Star Liatris ships bare-root and dormant, so planting starts the day the box lands on your porch. This guide takes you from unpacking to the first flower spikes.
What a dormant Blazing Star looks like when the box arrives
A dormant liatris does not look like much. You get a knobby, brown corm, often with roots attached, and no green leaves. That is normal. The plant is resting, and it wakes up once it is in the ground and the soil warms.
- The bottom: the flatter or slightly hollow side, where the roots grow from.
- The top: the rounder side, where you may see small buds, eyes or the stubs of last year's stems.
- Healthy: firm to the touch, like a small potato.
- Worth a closer look: a corm that feels soft or squishy. Check TN Nursery's warranty page for what to do if a plant arrives in poor shape.
Storing liatris until you can plant
Plant as soon as you can. If the ground is not ready, open the box, keep the plants in a cool, shaded spot out of the sun, and keep the roots from drying out without leaving them sitting in water. A garage or shed that stays cool works well. Wet, warm storage invites rot, and dry, hot storage shrivels the roots, so aim for cool and just barely damp.
Tip: Liatris shipped in fall can wait a short while in a cool spot, but it is happier in the ground than in a box. If you live where the soil stays soggy all winter, read the next section before you decide.
Can I plant liatris bulbs now?
Usually, yes, if your soil drains well and the ground is still workable. The real risk with liatris is rot, not cold. A corm sitting in cold, wet soil all winter before it has rooted can rot, while one in loose, well-drained soil settles in and comes up in spring.
| Your winter | Best time to plant | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mild winters, well-drained soil (roughly Zones 7 to 8, outside Florida) | Fall, at least 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes | Roots grow while the soil is still warm |
| Cold winters, well-drained soil (roughly Zones 3 to 6) | Early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked; fall only with weeks to spare before freeze-up | Gives the corm time to root before hard frost |
| Heavy clay or soil that stays wet in winter, any zone | Spring, after the danger of frost | Avoids months in cold, soggy ground |
| Florida (Zones 8 to 10) | Spring, after frost danger passes | Follows UF/IFAS planting advice for the state |
How to plant liatris bulbs, step by step
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Soak the roots
TN Nursery's own planting guide for Blazing Star shows four steps: receive the plant, soak it in water, plant it in soil, and enjoy it when it grows in. Soak the roots in a bucket of water before planting so they go into the ground hydrated.
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Pick a sunny, well-drained spot
Liatris grows best in full sun. Choose a bed where water does not pool after rain. If your soil is heavy, work compost into the top several inches to loosen it.
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Find the top and bottom
Turn the corm until the flat, rooted side faces down and the buds face up. If you truly cannot tell, plant it on its side; the shoot will find its way up.
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Plant 2 to 3 inches deep
Dig a hole so the top of the corm sits about 2 to 3 inches below the surface. Spread the roots out in the hole rather than bunching them.
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Space them 12 to 15 inches apart
That gives air room around each plant. For a tighter drift of spikes, you can plant closer, but good spacing helps keep leaf problems down.
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Cover and water in
Firm the soil gently over the corm and water it in well. After that, follow the watering advice below and let the soil dry a little between waterings.
Planting liatris in pots
Liatris grows in containers if the pot drains freely. Use a pot with drainage holes and a light, loose potting mix, plant at the same 2 to 3 inch depth, and keep it in full sun. Pots stay wetter than beds in cool weather, so water sparingly until you see new leaves.
Watering and the first weeks after planting
Water regularly while the plant establishes, but do not keep the soil soaked. The University of Florida's IFAS liatris guide warns that liatris can rot if the soil stays too moist, and notes that it becomes drought tolerant once established. It also recommends 12 to 15 inch spacing to help prevent leaf spots, rust and powdery mildew.
- Fall-planted: water at planting, then leave it to winter rain unless the season turns dry.
- Spring-planted: water when the top inch of soil is dry, until leaves are growing strongly.
- No green yet: be patient. Dormant corms wait for warm soil before they sprout.
When to expect flower spikes
Grassy leaves come first, then tall, upright purple flower spikes rise from the clump. UF/IFAS describes liatris as loved by butterflies and bees. Bloom time depends on your climate; in Florida, UF/IFAS lists liatris as a fall bloomer.
Liatris is a perennial, so the same corms come back year after year. After a few seasons, a clump can be lifted and divided in spring: dig it up, separate the corms, and replant each one at the same depth.
Plants to grow beside Blazing Star
Blazing Star's purple spikes look good with flat, daisy-like flowers and other sun-loving natives. The four single plants below each come with TN Nursery's bare-root planting guide, so they go in the ground the same way: receive, soak, plant.
- Purple Coneflower: pink blooms with spiky orange centers beside the liatris spikes.
- Black Eyed Susan: yellow flowers with dark brown centers for contrast with purple.
- Bee Balm: a native perennial with purple and lavender flower clusters, a softer shape than the spikes.
- Goldenrod: bright yellow flower clusters on tall green stems.
- 15 Pollinator Plant Collection: a mixed set for filling a pollinator bed in one order.
Liatris planting questions
Do you soak liatris bulbs before planting?
Yes, for bare-root Blazing Star from TN Nursery. Its planting guide shows a soak in water between unpacking and planting, so the roots go into the ground hydrated. After soaking, plant right away rather than letting the corm dry out again, and water it in once it is covered with soil.
How deep should liatris be planted?
Set the top of the corm about 2 to 3 inches below the soil surface, flat rooted side down and buds up. Space corms 12 to 15 inches apart so air moves between plants. In pots, use the same depth in a loose mix with drainage holes.
Is liatris a perennial?
Yes. Liatris is a perennial that returns each year from its corms when it has full sun and well-drained soil. UF/IFAS notes it becomes drought tolerant once established, but it can rot in soil that stays too wet, so drainage matters more than extra water.
How do you divide a blazing star?
Divide it in spring. Dig up the clump, gently separate the corms by hand, and keep the ones that are firm. Replant each corm 2 to 3 inches deep and 12 to 15 inches apart in a sunny, well-drained spot, then water it in once.
