Stokesia laevis

RHS Plant Profile
Stokes' aster

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Stokes' aster visionspictures.com
Stokes' aster visionspictures.com
Stokes' aster visionspictures.com

Other common names

cornflower aster

Synonyms

Stokesia cyanea

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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A perennial with basal, lance-shaped leaves up to 20cm long forming an evergreen rosette. Upright stems to around 50cm tall with shorter, stem-clasping leaves bear cornflower-like purple-blue flowerheads in summer and early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Stokesia are perennials producing evergreen, basal rosettes. The colourful, cornflower-like flowers are long lasting and good for cutting
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SE US

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny, sheltered position in a fertile, well-drained soil; liable to rot in wet winter soils

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by division in spring or root cuttings in late winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering. Tidy foliage in spring when new growth appears

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free