Stoke's Aster: An almost-perfect perennial

Gardeners deal with a lot of challenges, from weather to pests to soil issues, in order to get their plants to thrive. It seems like many of our favorite plants are finicky to at least a moderate degree, so it's always nice to find plants that are relatively easy to grow. Given that, imagine if I told you there is a perennial plant with a fairly extended bloom time throughout late summer and early spring, that is tolerant of drought and able to stand periods of excessive moisture. In addition, the plant is resistant to damage from deer and rabbits, and also free from any significant disease or insect pests. You’d probably want that plant for your garden, right? I thought so.

‘Blue Danube.’ Photo: H. Duckworth,
CC BY 4.0

Stoke’s Aster Form. Photo:B. Goodman, CC BY 2.0

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That plant, or one of perhaps several that fit that bill, is Stokesia laevis or Stoke’s aster. Stoke’s aster is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Unlike other asters it does not wait until fall to bloom, but it does have a classic daisy-like flower with a disc like center from which petals radiate. Stoke’s aster is typically blue in bloom, though flower color can also include white, pink, or purple, depending on the variety.  Flowers are lightly fragrant and typically appear in early May and last through June. Deadheading is not essential, but will often extend the bloom period even longer. 
 
Stoke’s aster is a low-growing perennial, typically with a height of about 1-2 feet with a similar spread. As such, it’s a good idea to place along borders or edges of garden spaces or mixed amongst other perennial plants of roughly similar height. It can tolerate a bit of shade, so having a few taller plants nearby that cast a brief shadow is fine, but it prefers mostly sun and will flower best when provided with full sun. It is native to the southeastern United States, and a great nectar source for a number of bee and butterfly species.

‘Alba’ has white flowers.

Some varieties of note include ‘Blue Danube,’ which has pale blue flowers, and ‘Peachie’s Pick,’ which is more of a lavender. Both have longer bloom periods that what is typical of the species.  Some gardeners anticipate that ‘Peachie’s Pick’ will have pink or peach colored flowers, but the name refers not

to the color of the bloom, but to the female botanist from Mississippi who discovered it, Peachie Saxton.  Rosea’ is a pink-blooming variety, ‘Alba’ and ‘Silver Moon’ have white flowers, and ‘Mary Gregory’ blooms yellow. Any of these make great additions to perennial gardens, native plant or wildflower collections, and cottage gardens. 

The Pitt County Master Gardeners will be holding their annual plant sale at the Pitt County Arboretum on May 18th from 10 am to 12 noon.  Among the many plants offered for sale on that day will include several varieties of Stoke’s aster.  We hope to see you there!

‘Mary Gregory’ has yellow blooms.

Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center.  If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.