Liatris (Blazing Star) in Zone 8a & 8b
Liatris spicata
Yes, liatris (blazing star) grows in zones 8a and 8b and comes back each year. Plant it outside Mar 11–Mar 18.
When to plant liatris (blazing star) in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 11–Mar 18 |
| Estimated bloom | First real harvest the season after planting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-6 ft.
Before you plant: Liatris (blazing star) has a winter-hardiness note for zone 8b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of liatris (blazing star) in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)Mar 11–Mar 18
- AstilbeMar 11–Mar 18
- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)Mar 11–Mar 18
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Mar 11–Mar 18
- CalendulaMar 11–Mar 18
- California PoppyMar 11–Mar 18
Liatris is a North American native grown from a corm, and it does two things backwards compared with everything else in the bed.
How liatris (blazing star) fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Liatris (blazing star) takes about 1 growing season to reach full flowering, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Liatris (blazing star) is hardy in zones 3-8, so in zone 8b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 1 ft of spread at maturity.
Liatris (Blazing Star) planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | First real harvest the season after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for liatris (blazing star).
Where to buy liatris bulbs
We haven't vetted bulb/tuber suppliers yet. Our seed-supplier list below doesn't carry these. The growing-guide source cited above is a good starting point for where to buy.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing liatris (blazing star)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Liatris (Blazing Star) in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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