Stokesia

Botanical/Latin
   Stokesia

Pronunciation
   Sto-keys-yah

Common Name
   Stokes' Aster

Hardiness zone range
   5 - 9

General Comments
Wonderful, clump forming, native perennials, with strap-like, evergreen leaves and 3 inch wide Aster or cornflower-like blossoms that are carried for an incredibly long time-often from summer through autumn until frost.

Uses
They are superb when planted in bold groups; the massed effect of upright flowering stems covered with the rich shades of aster-like flowers is stunning. Where space is limited, they can be planted either as individual specimens or in small groups. Try to find prominent positions where they can be viewed at close quarters; perhaps, towards the front of borders, along the edges of paths, on sloping banks, on raised beds, or in rock gardens. In mixed borders with shrubs and conifers, they add valuable long seasonal interest and make easy to maintain fillers between their larger companions. They are excellent cut flowers; the stiff stems hold the long lasting flowers prominently and help make them easy to arrange. In the garden, they are tireless bloomers, and since butterflies are attracted to the nectar rich flowers, they bring lots of these gorgeous winged visitors adding to the splendor of gardening pleasure.

Light Preference
Sun with some tolerance to light shade.

Culture
All they need is a well drained soil that is reasonably fertile. They dislike wet conditions, so heavy clay or poorly draining soils are best avoided.

They are not heavy feeders, but an occasional feed during the season, and a light dressing with a well balanced fertilizer applied in early spring, will be beneficial. To prolong and encourage repeat flowering, it is important to trim back the old flower stems. See Splendor Suggestions for more details.

Background
Stokesias are native to the southern states, from Florida north to S. Carolina and west to Louisiana. They were named in honor of a Scottish physician, Dr. Jonathan Stokes, who was a friend of Linnaeus (the younger). They were first introduced to cultivation around 1766.

There are around 12 or so named cultivars. Although a few exist in shades of pink, white, and even yellow, the best ones have lavender-blue shades. They are by far the most popular with their cooling colors perfect for hot summer days. S. `Blue Danube' and S. `Klaus Jelitto' are the pick of the bunch as they have larger flowers than most. S. `Klaus Jelitto' is named after a German seedsman.

Splendor Suggestions
They tend to bloom with a succession of buds that are carried on the tips of new shoots, so it is important to deadhead when the individual flowers have finished flowering. This can either be done by snapping off the old heads, by finger and thumb, or carefully snipping them with shears, leaving the remaining buds to grow out and flower. When most of the buds on a stem have flowered, shear back to about 6 inches from the ground. This encourages new growth and other flushes of flowers. Deciding exactly when to shear calls for a degree of judgment as the plants usually have a few flowers remaining. If individual stems are trimmed at different times, this helps to have them mature alternately and will keep a constant display going until the arrival of frost. Watering during dry periods, and a little supplementary feeding, will help to keep them lush and healthy.

Companion Plants
They are wonderful with Hemerocallis (daylilies) and with the soft yellows and lemons of Coreopsis `Moonbeam, Achillea `Moonshine', Scabiosa ochroleuca, or the prostrate Helianthemum `Wisley Primrose'.

Try them with the crinkly foliage of Alchemilla mollis or the blue of Veronica `Sunny Border Blue' and Scabiosa `Butterfly Blue'. Later flushes will go with Liatris, Sidalcea or fall flowering Asters and shrubs like Vitex (Chaste tree), Caryopteris (Blue Spirea), or Buddleias (Butterfly bushes).