Liatris (also known as Blazing Star) is a tough, perennial garden favorite that handles winter like a pro. However, once fall hits, the foliage and flowers will completely wither away. While you don’t *technically* have to prune them, there are a few good reasons why you might want to grab your garden shears.
No Strict Pruning Required
Generally speaking, Blazing Stars don’t require a regular haircut to stay healthy. They’ll do just fine on their own, but a little maintenance can go a long way depending on your goals.
When to Prune
If you decide to clear away the withered stems, you’ve generally got two windows of opportunity:
- In the fall, before the first big freeze
- Or in the spring, once the worst of winter has passed
Pruning Blazing Stars in the Fall
During the fall and winter, the above-ground parts of the Liatris will die back completely. This is totally natural, and you don’t have to intervene if you don’t want to. However, if the brown, dried-up stalks are an eyesore in your flower bed, feel free to cut them back.
Cutting them back in the fall is especially practical if you’re growing Liatris in pots. It makes it much easier to wrap the containers in garden fleece or burlap to protect the roots from freezing temperatures.
Pruning Blazing Stars in the Spring
Many gardeners prefer to wait until spring to clear out the old growth. The big advantage here is that the dead foliage acts as a natural mulch, protecting the crown of the plant from frost. Plus, those old stalks provide a cozy winter home for beneficial insects!
Just make sure to clear away the old debris by early spring at the latest. This clears the path for fresh, green shoots to emerge without having to fight through last year’s mess.
Deadheading for a Second Bloom
If you’re hoping for a “round two” of flowers, try deadheading! If you snip off the faded flower spikes right down to the green leaves as soon as they start to wither, there’s a good chance your Liatris will reward you with a second flush of blooms later in the season.
Cutting Liatris for Bouquets
Those fuzzy flower spikes look amazing in a vase! To get the longest life out of your cut flowers, you should snip them either just before the buds open or right as the first flowers at the top begin to bloom.
Don’t Give Them a “Haircut” to Control Height
If your Blazing Stars are getting a bit too tall for your liking, don’t just chop off the tops of the spikes—that will ruin the look of the plant. Instead, the best way to manage their size is by dividing the rhizomes. Dig up the roots and remove any new offshoots, or split large root clumps in half. This naturally thins out the growth and keeps the plants at a more manageable scale.
