Pruning blazing star
Advice for October in the Netherlands
The plant on this page is Liatris spicata, a perennial with purple or white spikes. A spike flowers from top to bottom, so a brown tip does not mean the entire stalk is finished. Months are a guide for the Netherlands and Belgium; follow actual growth and flowering.
Blazing star — October
Check this first
Liatris does not need cutting right down now. Retain healthy dry spikes and stems for structure and insects; leave green foliage and still-flowering lower florets intact.
Pay attention to this
- Check the lower half of the spike for living flowers.
- Do not pull old stems from the soil; the corm-like base may come with them.
- Where practical, retain healthy dead stem sections for insects.
Frequently asked questions
- Is blazing star the same as fountain grass?
- No. This advice is for Liatris spicata. Pennisetum/Cenchrus and woody Callistemon require different advice.
- Why is the spike still flowering at the bottom?
- Liatris opens flowers from top to bottom. Wait to remove the whole stalk until the lower part has finished too.
- Must all stems be cut to ground level in spring?
- No. Dead hollow stems can shelter insects. You can retain sturdy sections and let new growth emerge among them.