Stokesia laevis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southeastern United States
Plant Profile: Stokesia laevis
Taxonomy: Stokesia laevisNames
Cornflower Aster, Stoke's Aster, Stokes' Aster
Phonetic Spelling:sto-KEES-ee-uh LIE-viss
Genus:Stokesia
Species:laevis
Family:Asteraceae
Stokes' aster is an attractive and beneficial native species that thrives from South Carolina to Florida. Its dark green leaves form appealing rosettes that endure through the winter months. Several cultivars are available, including 'Blue Danube,' which boasts 5-inch flowers, as well as 'Alba' and 'Silver Moon,' both featuring white blooms. This plant was a favorite in historic gardens, although it can occasionally fall prey to deer.
As a herbaceous perennial, Stokes' aster typically reaches heights of 1 to 2 feet. The foliage is primarily basal, with smaller clasping leaves emerging on new growth. In early summer, it showcases deep violet or lavender-blue flowers.
**Seasons of Interest:**
- Bloom: Summer
- Fruit/Seed/Nut: Summer
Stokesia laevis Feature Summary
Tags
#purple
#white
#yellow
#full sun tolerant
#blue
#drought tolerant
#lavender
#perennial
#white flowers
#wildlife plant
#purple flowers
#pink flowers
#yellow flowers
#nectar plant
#blue flowers
#winter interest
#rabbit resistant
#herb garden
#ncemgva2018
#silver
#NC native
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#native garden
#pollinator plant
#native wildflower
#silver flowers
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant mid-summer
#nectar plant late summer
#partial shade tolerant
#HS302
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
Similar Plants
Stokesia laevis Feature Summary
Attributes
Southeastern United States
Butterflies and bumblebees are attracted by nectar at the blooms in the summer.
Moderate deer resistance; rabbit resistant and drought tolerant
Perennial
Seed
Stem Cutting
Division
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Attractive Flowers
Flowers
Deep violet or lavender-blue flowers appear in early to mid-summer, May to June. Remove spent flowers to prolong the bloom season.
Purple/Lavender
White
Blue
Fragrant
Showy
Summer
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tubular
1-3 inches
Leaves
Basal rosette of lanceolate 6" long leaves. Stem leaves have no petiole and are smaller than basal leaves.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
Rosulate
Lanceolate
Entire
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Deciduous
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
3 feet-6 feet
Coastal
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
Fruit
Summer
Stem
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Cottage Garden
Native Garden
Water Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Small groups
Drought
Deer
Rabbits
Riparian
Pond
Butterflies
Pollinators
Bees
Stokesia laevis Image Gallery
Stokesia laevis Attributes
Stokesia laevis: Wildlife Value
Butterflies and bumblebees are attracted by nectar at the blooms in the summer.
Stokesia laevis: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Moderate deer resistance; rabbit resistant and drought tolerant
Stokesia laevis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Stokesia laevis: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Stokesia laevis: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Stokesia laevis Flowers
Stokesia laevis: Flower Description
Deep violet or lavender-blue flowers appear in early to mid-summer, May to June. Remove spent flowers to prolong the bloom season.
Stokesia laevis: Flower Color
Blue
Purple/Lavender
White
Stokesia laevis: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Stokesia laevis: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Stokesia laevis: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Stokesia laevis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Stokesia laevis: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Stokesia laevis: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Stokesia laevis Leaves
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Description
Basal rosette of lanceolate 6" long leaves. Stem leaves have no petiole and are smaller than basal leaves.
Stokesia laevis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Color
Green
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Stokesia laevis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Stokesia laevis: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Stokesia laevis Whole Plant Traits
Stokesia laevis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Stokesia laevis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Stokesia laevis: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Stokesia laevis Cultural Conditions
Stokesia laevis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Stokesia laevis: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Stokesia laevis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Stokesia laevis: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Stokesia laevis: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Stokesia laevis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
Stokesia laevis Fruit
Stokesia laevis: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Stokesia laevis Stem
Stokesia laevis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Stokesia laevis Landscape
Stokesia laevis: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Stokesia laevis: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Stokesia laevis: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Stokesia laevis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Stokesia laevis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
