Stokesia Laevis Blue
in Northeast Florida Landscapes
( Stokesia laevis blue / Stokes Aster )
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Origins:
– Stokesia laevis blue is a wonderful Florida native perennial heirloom plant that deserves much more garden space than it gets! I think I will never forget the first time I ran into these beauties at a customers home, she had been dividing them for many years and planting them as a border along her driveways and walkways etc. They were in full bloom and I had never seen them before, when she began to talk about how hardy they were with such little care as she gave them I could not understand how none of my suppliers were growing this plant! So I set out to find seeds and young starter plants of Stokesia and have been grabbing and trying every cultivar I can find ever since. To this day they are a favorite among my perennial plantings for Northeast Florida and have thrived in both Jacksonville and St. Augustine area gardens for years.
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Preferred Exposure:
– Stokes Asters will prefer a full sun or lightly shaded exposure in the Northeast Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Foliage:
– Compact mounds of deep dark green leathery tufts of foliage remain evergreen in our Northeast Florida gardens.
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Soil Preference / Salt tolerance:
– Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster will thrive
in well draining soils. Tolerates moist soils as well.
– Salt tolerance unknown
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Size Variance:
– Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster stays low and only reaches 12-23 inches tall and
wide the flowering stalks rising above the foliage.
– Foliage alone without flowering stalks on it will form a clump 12 inches
high nd 12-18 inches wide.
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Growth Habit:
– Evergreen, clumping almost grass like perennial forms an attractive compact mound of foliage.
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Growth Rate:
-Stokesia is a moderate grower and can be expected to almost reach its full size within the second or third season after planting from an S & J Tree Farm and Nursery container.
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Bloom:
– Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster has a strikingly large bloom cluster for such a compact plant. Clusters of 2-3 inch wide blue blossoms are held upright on thick stems above the foliage of the plant in summer and into fall in the Northeast Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area garden.
– Remove spent flowers individually or the entire stem to prolong blooming
period.
Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster Water Requirements:
– Moderate
– Water daily for 2-3 weeks after planting and weekly during hot dry summers for established plants.
Butterfly or Bird Attracting:
– Stokes Asters are butterfly attracting.
Best Uses For Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster in the Northeast Florida |
Jacksonville | St. Augustine area garden:
– Stokesia is an excellent Florida native perennial selection for the Northeast Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
– Low maintenance, compact form and lots of color make it a garden
staple that everyone should find a place for in the garden.
– Plant in masses around a bird bath or other accent for a beautiful and graceful display of blooms.
– Plant along the edge of a walkway or path for an added pop of color to lead you on your way.
– Excellent front of the border planting for an instant cottage garden feel.
Care of Stokesia Laevis Blue Stokes Aster in the Northeast Florida | Jacksonville |
St. Augustine area landscape:
– Dig and divide plant every few years or as needed for additional garden
plants.
– Water every day during the establishment period after planting in the garden from a nursery container. And at least weekly during hot dry summer months.
– Prune out old foliage each spring or as needed any time of the year to maintain plants tidy appearance.
– Remove spent blooms to prolong flowering season.
– Fertilize each spring with a handful of garden compost or a mixture of Milorganite and a slow release poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose plant food or 10-10-10.