Would you like to add another native plant to your perennial or pollinator garden? One of my favorites is Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis). It’s part of the Asteraceae family and is native to the southeastern United States. The genus Stokesia is in honor of Jonathan Stokes (1755-1831), an English physician and botanist, and the species name, laevis, means smooth.
Stokes asters grow best in full sun but will tolerate some part shade in the hot afternoon. They prefer moist, well-drained, organically rich soils and overwinter in USDA planting zones 5 to 9. When the feathery pincushion-shaped flowers bloom, the flower stalks can be from one to two feet tall. Blue, purple, or white flowering cultivars are available. They flower from May through July, but the blooming can be extended through late summer into early fall by deadheading the spent flowers. The lance-shaped leaves are 6 inches long and form an attractive basal rosette growth habit.
There are no serious insect or disease issues, and Stokes asters are moderately deer- and rabbit-resistant. The flowers in my landscape are always covered with bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.
Many cultivars of Stokesia have been introduced into the nursery trade. My favorites are ‘Peachie’s Pick’ and ‘Divinity.’ ‘Peachie’s Pick’ was discovered by Peachie Saxton in Mississippi and is named in her honor. This cultivar blooms longer and a bit later in the season than others. ‘Divinity’ has white flowers and a compact growth habit. Emerald Coast Growers, LLC patented this cultivar in 2015.
These beautiful perennials are excellent additions to pollinator and cottage gardens. They can be used in borders, mass plantings, or small groups to bring a splash of color. Blue or white
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If you’re looking for a beautiful native plant that attracts a variety of pollinators, Stokes’ Aster (Stokesia laevis) is a good choice. I spent an hour in the Perennial border in the South Carolina Botanical Garden on the last Thursday in May observing this plant.
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to get exclusive access to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show? Well, your dreams have come true because in this exclusive interview we got an all-access pass to THE horticultural event of the year thanks to Annie Guilfoyle, a 2024 judge. Annie is co-founder of Garden Masterclass in the UK and an award wining garden designer who earned a Silver Medal at Cheslea years ago for her innovative landscape design. Annie is just back from the show this year and shares details from her favorite gardens, interesting new plants that caught her attention, and even some celebrity gossip from those stars that were in attendance at the show. (Spoiler alert: she did not see Lady Whistledown at the Bridgerton -themed garden). We discussed how native plants and sustainable practices played a role in this year’s event and talk about themes of water conservation and hardscape upcycling.
Sometimes plants are just like us gardeners and can’t wait to get going at the beginning of the season. Often our gardens trumpet forth in a symphony of color and texture but then start to fade out as autumn approaches, leaving us to wish for some awesome soloist to come in and take over the show. This is where ‘Grape Crush’ New England aster comes to the rescue.
Happy Easter! It has been so wet the last few days that a canoe would be of more use than a wheelbarrow. The forecast for the week ahead doesn’t look any better, but today it has been dry all morning. Since it looks as though I am going to be crazy busy with work this month, I thought I would take the opportunity to do the next batch of seed sowing, and so I headed out into the garden. I was greeted by the first asparagus spear of the season – and we get to harvest some this year!
If you have a garden, you likely have one or more members of the aster family (Asteraceae) growing. This is the largest family of flowering plants, with about 1,100 genera and more than 20,000 species. They range from sunflowers and daisies to dandelions, lettuce, and chicory. The only other family of flowering plants with a similar number of species are legumes and orchids.
Beautiful trees and plants are an excellent way to upgrade your property’s look to its best and what could be better than to see them thrive fast and healthy. This guide will give you all the Tips to Grow Plants and Trees Faster!
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