Species Stokes' aster
purple-pink flowers with peach-plum stamens and green leaves

Stokes' aster

Stokesia laevis 'Purple Pixie'

Stokes' aster (Stokesia laevis 'Purple Pixie'), is a unique perennial flower with dazzling purple-to-lavender blooms. Its grey-green foliage is slightly fringed andlends an interesting dimension to the garden. Flowering in late spring or early summer, this sun-loving plant can grow up to 18 inches tall and prefers well-drained soil. Grown in full to partial sun, 'Purple Pixie' will delight with its long-lasting flowers. An added bonus is that Stokes' aster attracts pollinators to the garden!

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:

purple Fruits In Autumn Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

purple

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Stokes' aster prefers moist soil, so it should be watered thoroughly when the top inch of the soil feels dry. They typically need to be watered 1 to 2 times each week, increasing to 2 or 3 times during the hottest summer months. Try to water at the base of the plant and never from overhead, to prevent leaf and stem rot. Mulching around the plant can help keep the soil moist.

sunlight

Stokes' aster (Stokesia laevis 'Purple Pixie') should receive full sun for at least 8 hours a day for best flowering. This plants does best in a sunny spot in the garden with a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. However, you can get away with less if you provide afternoon shade during the hottest part of the day. Too much shade will result in poor flowering and may cause the plant to become lanky and sprawling.

pruning

Stokes' aster should be pruned regularly to keep plant size compact and encourage continuous blooming from spring to fall. Prune the plant at any time of year to remove dead, broken, or otherwise diseased wood. In late fall, Cut Stokes' aster back to 12-18 inches, removing most stems to just above soil level. This will help ensure a more robust display of blooms the following season. Expect blooms to appear in late spring and last through fall.

Season

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

Stokesia laevis 'Purple Pixie' typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Stokesia laevis 'Purple Pixie' typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Stokesia laevis 'Purple Pixie' is in July and August.

Hardiness Map