Mel's Blue Stoke's Aster

Mel's Blue Stokes' Aster

Stokesia laevis Mel's Blue PP23,090

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Mel's Blue carries four-inch violet-blue flowers with white centers on stems stiff enough to hold them upright, which is what separates this from the older Stokes' asters. Stokesia laevis Mel's Blue grows 12 to 15 inches tall and wide in full sun, hardy from Zone 5 through Zone 8.

The flowers are large and fringed, closer to a cornflower than a daisy, and they bloom in midsummer. Deadheading extends the run, and they cut well.

The foliage is strap-shaped and evergreen through winter in the milder part of the range, forming a low rosette that stays tidy after bloom.

Stokes' aster is a southeastern native, and heat tolerance is what it brings, so it keeps flowering through humid summers. Well-drained soil matters more than anything else, since winter wet is the usual cause of failure. Deer leave it alone.

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Size at Maturity

Height 12"- 15" Spread 12"- 15"

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Growing Zone

USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8

Lowest Temperatures -20°F to -10°F

Light Requirements

Full sun - more than 6 hours of direct sun per day

Wildlife Benefits

  • Supports Bees
  • Attracts Butterflies

Special Conditions

Reblooming

Seasons of Interest

  • Summer
  • Fall

How to Plant

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Planting and Care Guide

Planting Tips

Plant in spring or fall in average, well-drained to dry soil, spacing 12–18 inches apart. Mel's Blue is a compact Stoke's aster with large, lavender-blue flowers and a reliable, free-flowering habit. It adapts to average to lean conditions without special preparation. Water regularly for the first few weeks, then reduce as the plant establishes. Good drainage is more important than soil richness.

Care Tips

Deadhead spent flowers to keep new blooms forming through the season. Divide every three to four years in spring to maintain vigor. No heavy fertilizing is needed. Stoke's aster is notably heat and drought tolerant once established — an excellent perennial for hot, dry summers in the South. The large, fringed, lavender-blue flowers are beautiful for cutting and provide excellent summer nectar for butterflies and bees.

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