Discover The Green Leaf Nursery's Beautiful Plants

 Stokes' Aster (Stokesia laevis) is a quintessential perennial for the Southeast, offering large, cornflower-like blooms with a ruggedness that belies their delicate appearance. It is a staple for any nursery focused on reliable, long-lived garden performers.

• Growth Habit: Forms a tidy, evergreen mound of leathery, lance-shaped leaves. During bloom, it sends up sturdy stems reaching 12–18 inches tall.
• The Bloom: Features spectacular, fringed flowers usually 3–4 inches wide. While the classic color is a vibrant lavender-blue, varieties also come in white, pink, and deep purple.
• Pollinator Magnet: The flat, open centers make it an easy landing pad for butterflies and bees, particularly during the mid-to-late summer months.

• Sunlight: Prefers full sun for the best flower production and sturdier stems, though it can tolerate light afternoon shade in hot climates.
• Soil & Drainage: This is the most critical factor. While it likes moisture during the growing season, it must have excellent drainage, especially in winter. It will rot in "heavy" or waterlogged soil.
• Drought Tolerance: Once established, it is quite drought-tolerant, making it a great choice for low-maintenance landscapes.
• Hardiness: Exceptionally hardy, performing well in USDA Zones 5–9. In Florida, it behaves as a reliable perennial that remains green year-round.

Bloom Time: Late spring through summer; may rebloom in fall if deadheaded.

Maintenance:  Low; remove spent flowers to encourage a second flush of blooms.

Pest Resistance: Generally deer and rabbit resistant.