Species Stokes' aster
blue flowers with purple-peach center, lime buds, olive leaves and brown stems

Stokes' aster

Stokesia laevis 'Mel's Blue'

Stokes' aster is a gorgeous herbaceous perennial with beautiful, deep purple-blue flowers. It blooms from mid to late summer and adds an eye-catching aesthetic to any garden. 'Mel's Blue' is a favorite cultivar of Stokes' aster—its remarkable blooms are 2-3 inches in diameter and absolutely breathtaking when in full bloom. Ranging between 1 to 2 feet in height, Stokes' aster is a great choice for those wishing to add a splash of vibrant hues to their garden or balcony.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

Blue Flowers In Summer

Sun:

Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Sheltered

Soil:

Acidic, Well-drained

Fruits:

blue Fruits In Autumn Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Stokes' aster should be watered consistently, but with moderation. The soil should be kept moist, but not soggy. Water when the top 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) of soil has dried out completely. This happens about once every 7-10 days in spring and summer or less often in the winter. For the best results, use a soil moisture probe to check the soil moisture level. Avoid splashing or overhead watering, as this can lead to disease and pest infestations.

sunlight

Stokes' aster needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal growth. The best time of day for Stokes' aster to receive sunlight is between 9:00am and 3:00pm. Stokes' aster can also tolerate some partial shade, but may not produce as many flowers.

pruning

Stokes' aster should be pruned in early spring when you see new growth beginning. Prune back the spent flowers and cut back individual stems to a height of 6 to 8 inches to reduce the overall size, if desired. Be careful not to remove more than a third of the plant when pruning. Deadheading may be done at any time during the growing season to encourage reduced leaf density and new flowers.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Stokesia laevis 'Mel's Blue' typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Stokesia laevis 'Mel's Blue' typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Stokesia laevis 'Mel's Blue' is in July and August.

Hardiness Map