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Mark Kane
Asteraceae
Stokesia laevis
Stoke's Aster
Stoke's aster is a cheery, herbaceous to semi-evergreen perennial that hails from the southeastern United States. It blooms for several weeks from late spring to autumn with flowers that may be white, blue, pink, or purple cornflower-like blooms with fringed petals surrounding a disk of darker or lighter florets, depending on the cultivar. In the wild, its flowers are commonly lavender-blue. Blooms appear above a coarse rosette of dark green, lance-like foliage, which is evergreen in its southern-most zones. Stoke’s asters are long-lasting, both in the garden and for cutting, and attract butterflies. Regularly deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering.
Wet winter soil is the most common cause of death for Stoke's aster, as it requires light, well drained, slightly acidic soil. It thrives in full sun, but will tolerate partial or filtered sun, and leaf spot and caterpillars are occasionally problems. This easy-to-grow perennial looks best planted in groups of three or more and is ideal for the front of a mixed border or cottage garden.
9 - 5
5 - 9
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Perennial
Full Sun
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Southeastern United States
Acidic
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Medium
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Rosette/Stemless
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
White, Blue, Pink, Lavender, Blue Violet
Bicolor
Dark Green
Dark Green, Brown
Yes
No
Single, Semi-Double
Coarse
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border
Butterflies
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