Mel's Blue Stokes Aster

Mel's Blue Stokes Aster packs some serious style into a relatively small plant. Broad petals have deeply notched, fringed ends, resulting in a feathery look. Each flower of the Stokesia laevis is 2 to 3 inches wide and has a very dense and full appearance. This plant is a prolific bloomer, and the entire exterior will be covered in flowers from July through late summer. The flowers are so eye-catching that you may not notice, but this plant has thin, dark green foliage. This beauty has a branched upright structure. Plant this Aster in beds, borders, mass plantings, or containers. Butterflies and other pollinators enjoy the striking flowers. Grow this plant as a perennial in USDA zones 5 through 8. Mel's Blue Stokes Aster Care Soil should be rich, acidic to neutral, and moist but well-drained. Aster needs at least 6 hours of sunlight. Give this beauty a drink weekly or when the top several inches of soil dry out. Top-dress with soil each spring with organic compost or feed this plant using a balanced fertilizer. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Greenery can be cut back in the late fall or early spring. Mel's Blue Stokes Aster Spacing This is an upright, mounded perennial that will grow 12 to 24 inches tall and wide. Create a full, meadow-like effect by spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart.