Reliable and very easy maintenance here.

Have always bought live plants.

'Kobold' is a striking colour.

Since I have none this year, please feel free, everyone, to post pics of yours so I can enjoy! :)

Dee

Here is the description from the Native American Seed Sitesite

Sometimes called Blazing Star in the northern regions, this beauty is found thru out the tallgrass prairies. We found this perennial growing in thick stands on damp sandy clay near the Katy prairies. If you live in an area of sandy, well-drained soils and get frequent rainfall, you'll want to plant this species rather than the Liatris mucronata. This one is adapted to 30-40" rainfall areas of Texas' coastal bend, north thru the blacklands and open bottomlands of the Piney Woods." ( actually , the piney woods often get 50- 55")

I kept my seed outside in the bag in the winter time and forgot to plant them to cold stratify, but then I read that in nature they cold stratify on the stalks and can be planted in warmth. I did and they are coming up very well.

SunnyBorders: I love the color combination!

Am not even remotely in seed collecting mode (yet) but will surely be hoping to do a few swapsies. Any ideas what sort of things you are wanting?

You know how it is; part intent, part luck!

I think I have 3 kinds. M. pychnostachya, punctata & aspera but I'm not sure. Its hard for me to distinguish some of the varieties. One type is from Kansas and these are shorter, the other was growing wild in sticky red clay in Oklahoma, it has very long bloom stems and the third was from wantanamara which I think is L. aspera? It has blooms that are spaced out along the stems rather than in a tight formation & it blooms in early August, the other two bloom in fall. All are rugged hardy plants with very stiff stems and thin rough olive green leaves. If the soil is too rich or wet, they snake along the ground in a weird way. There are so many types each with different growing preferences so no matter what the conditions, there is a liatris you can grow.

I'm not familiar with these early blooming types, I understand they are taller and thirstier. Maybe its L. spicata? The leaves look more 'tame', greener and thicker. The plants are 3ft tall. Perhaps this is a tall grass prairie native and the others are native to dry short grass prairies? Anyone know?

My sister bought some corms at Walmart one year. These bloomed very early and got real tall, the leaves were lush and green. They are not like any native from around here, it looked more like the ornamental types flower arrangers use in bouquets and was less wild looking.

As far as the foliage on mine is concerned after they bloom, thats about the time when temps are dropping and stuff is shutting down for fall so its not a factor. They are very ornamental in summer and winter due to the structure and texture of the plant. I strip mine when they get very dry to keep them from seeding everywhere which is difficult since I like the looks of them dried out among grasses. I end up with quart sized bags stuffed with seed.

It's a combined effort; the plants and me.

Cool graphic, TexasRanger.