Recently, Tyra Trevellyn wrote:

From: SueG
Date: Thu, Jul 3, 2003 11:05 PM
Message-id:

In late July last year, I purchased some perennials from my local
garden centre to provide some summer interest to a bed of expired
tulips and hyacinths. They took well and looked good. This spring, all
have returned but one: a liatris spicata. There's no sign of it at
all. Does gayfeather start its growing really late, or have I lost
this one? (And if so, what happened to it??)

Any and all input gratefully accepted. Many thanks!

SueG
Ontario, Zone 5A

It's gone if you see no sign of it by now. If you had a long hard winter and a
long cold wet spring (as we did down here), you may have lost it to the Big
Wet. Liatris spicata grows from a crown of small corms that must have
excellent drainage, and sometimes even then, rot can get them if they don't get
some breathing space early enough. See if you can find what's left; I wouldn't
be at all surprised if you found rotted corms. I suggest you try again in
future, making sure it's in a very well-drained spot. Other than that very
important requirement, they're easy to maintain and the clumps will increase
substantially over the years.

Best,
Tyra
nNJ usa z7

Ah. So it may have been crowded out early on by the surrounding tulip
foliage? I'll poke through the area tomorrow and see if any corms turn
up.

Thanks very much, Tyra. I really appreciate your help!

Sue