Georgia Native Wildflowers

Volume 3, Issue 8
February 24, 2012
Georgia Native Wildflowers
Liatris, also known as Gayfeather or Blazing
Star, is a stately, colorful genus of ornamental plants,
many of which are native to Georgia. When flowering,
Liatris sends up tall stalks that bear 15-45 oblong, usually
purple flowers. The flowers impart a feathery look to the
inflorescence, hence the name Gayfeather. Liatris are
frequently sold as cut flowers, and they are very popular
in summer bouquets.
Liatris spicata
Liatris chapmanii
Table of Contents
Georgia Native
Wildflowers pg. 1
What’s In Bloom?
pg. 2
Staff Spotlight:
Vicki Folendore
pg. 3
Liatris spicata, commonly known as Spike
Gayfeather, is native from Maine to Florida and Lockerly Trustees
Louisiana. It typically grows 2-4’ in cultivation, but can
reach a height of about 6’ in the wild. This plant features
Monica Webb,
terminal spikes of rounded, fluffy, deep purple flower
President
heads atop rigid stalks. Spike Gayfeather is easily grown
in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun.
Joe Mangum,
Because of its tolerance of heat and humidity, L. spicata
Vice President
makes a great addition to any Southern garden. They need
an area with good drainage because the plant is intolerant Robert Culberson, Ph.D.,
of wet soils in winter. It is often considered the best
Treasurer
species for the garden, and there are several good
cultivars available. ‘Kobold’ is one of the most
Sherrill Jones,
popular selections for the garden. ‘Kobold’ is a compact
Secretary
selection, seldom taller than 3’, and it features multiple
spikes of lilac-mauve flowers in early summer. ‘Floristan
Kathy Chandler
White’ reaches 3’ and bears attractive spikes of creamy
David Evans
white flowers. In University of Georgia trials, it
Steven M. Fortier, Ph.D.
performed well and showed no signs of decline after 4
Jan Flynn, Ph.D.
years. Another noteworthy choice is ‘August Glory’,
George Hogan, Sr.
which has purple-blue flowers on 3-4’ tall plants.
Eddie Lipscomb
James Marshall
Liatris x boykinii grows only in Georgia. It was
Carol McRae
named after Dr. Samuel Boykin of Baldwin County. Dr.
Jackie Nelson
Boykin practiced medicine in Milledgeville in the early
Doug R. Oetter, Ph.D.
1800s, and his plantation home south of Milledgeville
Joni Smith
still stands. Dr. Boykin was a renowned amateur
Bruce Vaughn, CFP
botanist and a friend of English botanist, Thomas Nuttall.
Al Woods
Nuttall named several Georgia wildflowers in honor of Dr. Boykin,
including L. x boykinii. This Georgia native grows to about 3-6’ tall and
features purple flower spikes that bloom from July to October.
Liatris chapmanii, or Chapman’s Blazing Star, is named for
another Georgia physician-botanist, Alvin W. Chapman. This is another
Liatris that is confined to Georgia and the states immediately adjacent
to it, including Florida and Alabama. Chapman’s Blazing Star features
attractive, bright lavender flowers that lie below the top of the flower
stalk and leaves well above the basal rosette of grass-like leaves, making
it easily distinguishable from other members of this genus. This plant
would make a very attractive addition to a mixed wildflower planting,
but it absolutely requires well-drained soil and full sun to do well.
Liatris squarrulosa is commonly known as Appalachian
Blazing Star or Southern Gayfeather. It is quite common in the Southeast in well-drained soils and open, sunny habitats. The buds of this
plant are large and contain numerous light lavender-colored flowers
enclosed in scaly bracts, blooming from August to October. This is a tall
plant that can reach 3-4’ tall. Southern Gayfeather is moderately drought
tolerant, making it an ideal choice for any sunny garden.
All of these Georgia native wildflowers can be grown in flower
borders, where the upright flower stalks can provide a colorful vertical
accent and a source of beautiful, long-lasting cut flowers for the home.
Liatris squarrulosa
What’s In Bloom?
Here is what is blooming at Lockerly this week:
Tulipa bakeri ‘Lilac Wonder’
Gelsemium sempervirens
Camellia japonica (Japanese Camellia)
Crocus tommassinianus (Tommies)
Gelsemium sempervirens
(Carolina Jessamine)
Glandularia canadensis (Rose Vervain)
Heleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)
Hyacinthus orientalis (Hyacinth)
Ipheon uniflorum (Spring Starflower)
Leucojum aestivum (Spring Snowflake)
Narcissus (various Daffodils)
Osmanthus fragrans (Tea Olive)
Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox)
Prunus ‘Okame’ (Okame Cherry)
Tulipa bakeri ‘Lilac Wonder’ (Tulip)
Veronica peduncularis ‘Georgia Blue’
(Creeping Speedwell)
Viburnum obovatum ‘Reifler’s Dwarf’
(Small Viburnum)
Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus)
Viola x wittrockiana ‘Penny Lane Mix’
(Pansy)
Staff Spotlight: Vicki Folendore
Vicki Folendore, Lockerly’s office manager, is a
native of Milledgeville. She attended Baldwin High School
and Georgia College, where she later worked for 30 years.
Vicki was a secretary in the Public Relations office for 11
years before moving to the University Advancement office,
where she worked as the Assistant Director of Advancement
Services. After retiring from the college, Mrs. Folendore
was informed of a job opening at Lockerly Arboretum that
required the same set of skills she employed as Assistant
Director. Vicki has now served on the Lockerly staff for
over 4 years. We are thankful for all the hard work that she
does daily and the important role she plays in keeping our
administrative functions running smoothly.