Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) in Mercer Plaza, 251 Mercer Street
NYU Garden Shop Plant of the Week
By Head Gardener, George Reis
Tuesday July 5, 2011
Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) in Mercer Plaza, 251 Mercer Street.
Dense Blazing Star, planted this April in Mercer Plaza, is a native of wet meadows from New York (including Manhattan island) west to Wisconsin and south to Louisiana and Florida. They are great nectar plants for butterflies and the seeds are an important food source for birds. I've seen plenty of bees buzzing around these flowers in the plaza too, so they're a welcome addition to the plaza for a variety of pollinators. Dense Blazing Star, also known as Gayfeather, has a unique way flowering in a gravity-defying way: opening from the bottom of the flower spike to the top. Once established, these plants are quite drought tolerant and perform well in a variety of soil types. They thrive best in a sunny spot. While they don't require dividing, the tubers can be pried apart in spring or fall to multiply the plants. Go easy on the fertilizer, as too much will make the plants leggy, as will excessive shade.
Previous Plants of the Week:
Wild Bergamot
June 28, 2011
Wild Bergamot (Monarda spp.) on the west side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.
Hearts of Gold Redbud
June 21, 2011
Hearts of Gold Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold') in the west section of the Bleecker Street sidewalk at #3 Washington Square Village.
Russian Sage
June 15, 2011
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) in the middle section of the Bleecker Street sidewalk between #3 and #4 Washington Square Village.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
June 8, 2011
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) in the lobby garden at #3 Washington Square Village.
Wild Indigo
May 31, 2011
Wild Indigo (Baptisia Australis) in Mercer Plaza, 251 Mercer Street.
Arkansas Blue Star
May 24, 2011
Arkansas Blue Star (Amsonia hubrichtii) on the west side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.
Sunny Knock Out Rose
May 17, 2011
Sunny Knock Out Rose (Rosa 'Radsunny') at 251 Mercer St.
Red Ruby Swiss Chard
May 10, 2011
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) at Founders Hall, 120 East 12th St.
Wild Columbine
May 3, 2011
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) at Founders Hall, 120 East 12th St.
Japanese Flowering Cherry
April 25, 2011
Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata), or 'Kwanzan,' on the Bleecker Street side of Cole Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.
Saucer Magnolia
April 19, 2011
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)
Daffodil
April 12, 2011
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) in the sidewalk median at 100 Bleecker Street.
Lenten Rose
April 5, 2011
Lenten Rose (Helleborus x hybridus) in the sidewalk median at 100 Bleecker Street.
Camellia
March 29, 2011
Camellia 'April Remembered' (Camellia japonica 'April Remembered') at Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.
Japanese Maple
Mar 22, 2011
Coral Bark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku') at Glucksman Ireland House
Hamamelis
Mar 18, 2011
NYU Garden Shop Plant of the Week---Witch-hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) at #2 Washington Square Village Lobby Garden. (interior of Washington Square Village, W 3rd Street jst west of Mercer)
Crocus Species
Mar 8, 2011
Crocus species mix on Bleecker Street side of NYU Coles Sports Center