Stoke's Aster Stokesia laevis
Other Common Name(s):
- 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
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
white flowers - 'Blue Danube'
blue flowers (5" in diameter)
'Bluestone'
- 'Mary Gregory'
yellow flowers - 'Peachies Pick'
- 'Rosea'
pink flowers - 'Silver Moon'
silver/white flowers
bluish-purple flowers; dwarf - 'Alba'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
white flowers - 'Blue Danube'
blue flowers (5" in diameter)
'Bluestone'
- 'Mary Gregory'
yellow flowers - 'Peachies Pick'
- 'Rosea'
pink flowers - 'Silver Moon'
silver/white flowers
bluish-purple flowers; dwarf - 'Alba'
- 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:
- 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
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Deep violet or lavendar blue flowers appear in early summer.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Basal rosette of lanceolate medium green leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Monarda didyma
-
Phlox paniculata
-
Penstemon canescens
