Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Canada
  
Europe, Northern Europe, Western Europe, United Kingdom
  
Types
Not available
  
M. v. brevipetala
M. v. collina
M. v. frozen
M. v. grandiflora
M. v. paui
M. v. verna
M. v. japonica
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
marshes, meadows, Slopes, Upland savannas
  
gardens, Grassland, Prairies, Suburban areas, Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
4-7
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
  
8-1
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Mat-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Purple, Pink
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
  
Tiny
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Not Available
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Medium
  
Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water more in summer
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
Balanced garden plant fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Gray mold, Verticillium Wilt
  
Fungal Diseases
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Butterflies
  
Allergy
Dizziness, Nausea
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne, Antibacterial, Astringent, Diarrhea, Diuretic
  
Burns, Thyroid problems, tuberculosis
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Repellent, Used as a general tonic
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Alpine, Container, Edging, Groundcover, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
LIATRIS spicata
  
MINUARTIA verna
  
Common Name
Gayfeather, dense blazing star, prairie gay feather
  
Irish Moss
  
In Hindi
Gayfeather
  
आयरिश काई
  
In German
Gayfeather
  
Irish Moss
  
In French
Gayfeather
  
Irish Moss
  
In Spanish
Gayfeather
  
musgo de irlanda
  
In Greek
Gayfeather
  
Irish Moss
  
In Portuguese
Gayfeather
  
Moss irlandês
  
In Polish
Gayfeather
  
mech irlandzki
  
In Latin
Gayfeather
  
Irish Moss
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Asterales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Caryophyllaceae
  
Genus
Liatris
  
Minuartia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Eupatorieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Asteroideae
  
Not Available