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Monarda didyma Flowers
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis

Stokes' Aster Stokesia laevis

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Stokes' Aster:

Phonetic Spelling
sto-KEES-ee-uh LIE-viss
Description

Stokes' aster is a beautiful and useful native plant, found from South Carolina to Florida. Its leaves persist through the winter, in dark green, attractive rosettes. A number of cultivars are available, such as 'Blue Danube' with 5" diameter flowers and 'Alba' and 'Silver Moon' with white flowers. This plant was very popular in old gardens. They are occasionally damaged by deer.

Stokes' Aster is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 1-2 feet tall. The leaves are basal except for smaller clasping leaves that occur on new sprouts. Deep violet or lavendar blue flowers appear in early summer.

 

Seasons of Interest:

    Bloom: Summer; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Summer

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Gazing Ball Garden Part Shade Garden Vegetable Garden and Pollinator Plants Gazing Ball Garden Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Sea of Daylilies Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Foundation Planting- West Side of House Part Shade Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Alba', 'Blue Danube', 'Bluestone', ‘Divinity’, 'Mary Gregory', 'Peachies Pick', 'Rosea', 'Silver Moon'
Tags:
#purple#white#yellow#full sun tolerant#blue#drought tolerant#lavender#perennial#white flowers#wildlife plant#purple flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#nectar plant#blue flowers#winter interest#rabbit resistant#herb garden#ncemgva2018#silver#NC native#summer flowers#deer resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#silver flowers#butterfly friendly#nectar plant mid-summer#nectar plant late summer#partial shade tolerant#HS302#pollinator garden#bee friendly
 
Stokesia laevis
Flower BelgianChocolate CC BY 4.0
Form
Form Barbara Goodman CC BY 2.0
Flowers
Flowers K M CC BY 4.0
Flowers
Flowers K M CC BY 4.0
Flower bud
Flower bud K. Andre CC BY 2.0
'Peachie's Pick'
'Peachie's Pick' Debbie Roos
'Mary Gregory' flower
'Mary Gregory' flower Debbie Roos
Stokesia laevis with Aquilegia canadensis in the fall
(Small plant) in the fall in Moore County with Aquilegia canadensis Susan Strine CC BY 2.0
Leaves
Leaves K. Andre CC BY 2.0
Spring form
Spring form K. Andre CC BY 2.0
Stokesia laevis
Flower Close-up (Cabarrus County,NC) Hope Duckworth CC BY 4.0
'Divinity' flower
'Divinity' flower K. Andre CC BY 2.0
Stokesia laevis
‘Divinity’ Form (Warren County,NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Stokesia laevis
Flowers (Durham County,NC)-Mid Summer Andrea Laine CC BY-NC 4.0
Stokesia laevis
Form (Durham County,NC)-Summer Andrea Laine CC BY-NC 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Alba', 'Blue Danube', 'Bluestone', ‘Divinity’, 'Mary Gregory', 'Peachies Pick', 'Rosea', 'Silver Moon'
Tags:
#purple#white#yellow#full sun tolerant#blue#drought tolerant#lavender#perennial#white flowers#wildlife plant#purple flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#nectar plant#blue flowers#winter interest#rabbit resistant#herb garden#ncemgva2018#silver#NC native#summer flowers#deer resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#silver flowers#butterfly friendly#nectar plant mid-summer#nectar plant late summer#partial shade tolerant#HS302#pollinator garden#bee friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Water Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Rabbits