FNPS Plant Database

Stokesia laevis

stokesia. Stoke's aster

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

stokesia. Stoke's aster

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Stokesia laevis

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1-1.5 ft tall by 1-2 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,blue,purple,lavender

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms in summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Small specimen plant or low-growing mass planting. Heat tolerant.

Considerations:

Availability:

Big Box Stores, Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed, division.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

mildly acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Attracts butterflies, bees, and wasps.

Native Habitats:

Flatwoods, ruderal. Also cultivated. The pictures are of a cultivated specimen.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Makes a good cut flower, albeit with relatively short stems. Deadheading extends the bloom period.

General Comments:

Named after Jonathan Stokes (1755–1831), an English botanist.

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Hammer, Roger. 2015.  Attracting hummingbirds and butterflies in tropical Florida.  University Presses of Florida.



Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Tras, Pamela.  2001.  Gardening for Florida's butterflies.  Great Outdoors Publishing, St. Petersburg, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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