Liatris spicata 'Kobold'

RHS Plant Profile
button snakewort 'Kobold'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Liatris spicata 'Kobold'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
button snakewort 'Kobold' RHS / Joanna Kossak
button snakewort 'Kobold' RHS
button snakewort 'Kobold' visionspictures.com

Synonyms

Liatris spicata 'Goblin'
Liatris spicata Goblin

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
19 Suppliers

A compact clump-forming perennial with narrow, grass-like foliage and erect spikes of deep purple flowers, which open from the top downwards, in late summer and early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Liatris are herbaceous perennials with narrow, grass-like foliage and erect, bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers which open from the top down
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, well-drained soil in full sun. Plants may rot over-winter if grown in heavy soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed in autumn: divide in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Prairie planting
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead as flowering is completed

Pests

Susceptible to slugs, snails and mice

Diseases

Occasional problems with rust diseases or leaf spot