Stoke's Aster Stokesia laevis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- STOK-see-ah LAY-viss
- Description
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Stoke’s aster is an herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to the southeastern United States. The genus name commemorates Jonathan Stokes (1755–1831), an English physician and botanist. The species epithet is Latin for "smooth" and likely refers to the margins of the rosette leaves (cauline leaves usually have toothed margins).
Stoke’s aster grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist soil with good drainage. It will tolerate occasionally wet soil and is resistant to drought, deer, and rabbits. It will grow 1 to 2 feet tall and up to 18 inches wide.
This plant was very popular in old gardens. The showy deep violet or lavender-blue flowers appear in early summer. Its leaves persist through the winter, in dark green, attractive rosettes.
Plant this aster as a border or mass planting in a native, pollinator, butterfly, cottage, or winter garden. Its tolerance of moisture also makes it appropriate for a pond margins or upper riparian areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Part Shade Garden, Durham County Pollinator Garden at the Cabarrus County Extension Office HOA Butterfly Garden in Brunswick County Vegetable Garden with Pollinator Plants in Mt. Pleasant Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Backyard Respite Landscape Daylilies Galore, Cabarrus County West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County Corneille Bryan Native Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
white flowers
'Blue Danube'
- 'Color Wheel'
- ‘Divinity’
White flowers - 'Mary Gregory'
yellow flowers - 'Peachies Pick'
- 'Purple Upright'
- 'Rosea'
pink flowers - 'Silver Moon'
silver/white flowers
blue flowers (5" in diameter) 'Bluestone'
bluish-purple flowers; dwarf - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Blue Danube', 'Bluestone', 'Color Wheel', ‘Divinity’, 'Mary Gregory', 'Peachies Pick', 'Purple Upright', 'Rosea', 'Silver Moon'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
white flowers
'Blue Danube'
- 'Color Wheel'
- ‘Divinity’
White flowers - 'Mary Gregory'
yellow flowers - 'Peachies Pick'
- 'Purple Upright'
- 'Rosea'
pink flowers - 'Silver Moon'
silver/white flowers
blue flowers (5" in diameter) 'Bluestone'
bluish-purple flowers; dwarf - 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Blue Danube', 'Bluestone', 'Color Wheel', ‘Divinity’, 'Mary Gregory', 'Peachies Pick', 'Purple Upright', 'Rosea', 'Silver Moon'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Stokesia
- Species:
- laevis
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies and bumblebees are attracted by nectar at the blooms in the summer.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderate deer resistance; rabbit resistant and drought tolerant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
-
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Deep violet or lavender-blue flowers appear in early to mid-summer, May to June. Remove spent flowers to prolong the bloom season.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Basal rosette of lanceolate 6" long leaves. Stem leaves have no petiole and are smaller than basal leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
