Growing Guide
 
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Stokes� Aster

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Wildflower

Stokesia laevis
Asteraceae Family

This short, sun-loving North American wildflower bears fringed blooms in shades of purple, pink, blue and white in mid- to late summer.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun
  • part shade

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers fertile, well-drained soil.

Hardiness zones:

  • 5 to 9
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 0.75 to 1.5 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-summer
  • late summer

Flower color:

  • blue
  • white
  • pink

Flowers in the wild bear blue flowers. Newer hybrids come in shades of pink, white, purple, and blue.

Foliage color: dark green

Leaves are lance-like and have prominent white midribs.

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: upright

Stems are upright and branching.

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Flowers borne in clusters of 2 to 4 on upright stems. Generally, only 1 or 2 flowers in each cluster are open at the same time.

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • native to North America - Southeastern United States
Special uses:
  • cut flowers
  • wildflowers
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Divide in spring.

Maintenance and care:
Remove faded flowers. Mulch for winter protection in colder zones.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Varieties
�Alba�: white blooms.

�Blue Danube�: large (5� wide) purple-blue blooms.

�Blue Moon�: pale blue blooms.

�Blue Star�: cornflower blue blooms.

�Silver Moon�: creamy white blooms.

�Bluestone�: early-blooming with pure blue blossoms.

�Rosea�: rosy-pink blooms.

�Wyoming�: deep blue blooms.