Stokes' aster (Stokesia laevis 'Purple Parasols')
Stokesia laevis 'Purple Parasols' offers showy, deep violet-purple blooms in early summer. This low-maintenance Stokes' aster thrives in full sun.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’, commonly known as Stokes’ aster, is a highly valued herbaceous perennial prized for its stunning, fluffy, cornflower-like blossoms. This specific cultivar brings rich color to the summer garden, providing excellent visual interest in border settings. It is known for being relatively resilient once established, offering good performance with minimal fuss.
The plant forms an attractive basal rosette of medium green leaves, which remain evergreen in warmer climates, offering structure year-round. Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ reaches a modest height, making it versatile for various landscape applications where you need reliable summer color. Its native roots are in the moist, sunny environments of the southeastern US coastal plains.
Gardeners appreciate Stokes’ aster for its suitability in cottage gardens and its exceptional quality as a cut flower. While it enjoys consistent moisture, established plants demonstrate notable drought tolerance, provided they are planted in a well-drained location. Achieving success with Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ hinges primarily on ensuring sharp drainage, especially during dormant winter months.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: Deep violet purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best time to establish Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ seedlings or purchased plants is typically in spring or fall, ensuring they have time to settle before extreme weather hits. Locate your Stokes’ aster in a site that receives full, uninterrupted sun for the best flowering performance, although it can manage filtered light. Soil preparation is crucial; the plant demands well-drained substrate, preferring average to sandy conditions.
Water needs are medium; maintain consistency while the plant is actively growing, understanding that it prefers moist rather than perpetually soggy conditions. Providing good drainage is non-negotiable, as wet soil during winter frequently leads to plant death. Fertilization is rarely necessary if the soil is reasonable; avoid excessive nitrogen which can encourage soft, floppy growth.
Maintenance for Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ is low. Deadheading spent individual flowers encourages repeat blooming throughout the season. After the main flush of bloom subsides, remove the entire spent flowering stem down to the basal foliage. In colder regions (like Zone 5), apply winter mulch to protect the roots, and always ensure basal foliage dries out during winter dormancy.
Landscape Uses
Stokes’ aster excels when planted along border fronts, adding vertical texture and vibrant color where pathways meet flower beds. Its moderate height—rarely exceeding 1.5 feet—prevents it from obscuring smaller neighboring plants. It integrates beautifully into traditional cottage gardens, pairing well with plants that share similar full-sun requirements and moderate water needs.
Consider grouping Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ in small clusters of three or five for impactful, unified blocks of deep violet purple. This perennial is also perfectly suited for integration near moist structural features, such as alongside ponds or streams, provided the soil grade ensures water drains away relatively quickly and does not pool around the crown during winter.
Its structure makes it an excellent choice for mass plantings to create a stunning sweep of color during midsummer. Because the foliage is evergreen in milder zones, it provides necessary weight and definition to the garden structure even outside the bloom period.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Stokesia laevis, commonly known as Stokes’ aster, is native to wetlands, bottomlands, wet pinewoods, savannas and ditches mostly along the coastal plain from North Carolina to Florida to Louisiana. It is an evergreen perennial that typically grows to 1-2’ tall. It features fluffy, cornflower-like, violet blue flowers (to 2 1/2” across), each with notched rays surrounding a pincushion center of feathery disk florets. ‘Purple Parasols’ specifically boasts large flowers, measuring 3-4 inches across on erect stems up to 18 inches tall, with color shifts noted from initial light blue through purple tones to a final dark hot pink depending on the exact conditions.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Drought
Potential Problems
This plant generally encounters very few serious insect or disease issues, making it a reliable perennial, which adds to the appeal of Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’. The primary concern gardeners face involves maintenance practices rather than inherent pest susceptibility. The most common structural issue is that the flower stems can develop a tendency to flop, especially following heavy, intense rainfall or strong winds, common in summer thunderstorms. To mitigate this, ensure planting is done in a location protected from intense wind exposure, or consider planting shorter companion plants around the base to offer support. Watch out for caterpillars, which may occasionally feed on the foliage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Stokes’ aster suitable for?
Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 9, offering excellent versatility across many regions.
How large does Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ grow?
This perennial typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet tall, with a similar spread of 1 to 1.5 feet wide.
When does Stokes’ aster bloom?
You can expect the showy, deep violet purple blooms of Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ primarily from June through July.
What sun exposure does Stokes’ aster need?
For optimal performance, this plant requires full sun exposure, though it tolerates light, filtered shade.
Conclusion
Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ is a fantastic addition to any perennial or cottage garden, offering long-lasting, visually stunning blooms with relatively low effort. Its established drought tolerance combined with its evergreen foliage provides year-round interest. Before planting, confirm your site offers the excellent drainage necessary for this particular Stokes’ aster and place your order for spring planting.
Companion Planting
When selecting partners for Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’, prioritize plants that share its love for full sun and well-drained soil, though many companions can handle the medium water needs it prefers. Good neighbors include Lavender (Lavandula), which echoes the cottage garden aesthetic and requires sharp drainage, or Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) for contrasting silvery foliage and complementary bloom times. Alternatively, pairing it with lower-growing sedums or ornamental grasses can help break up the texture near the basal rosette.
Propagating Stokes’ Aster
Propagating Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Parasols’ is most successfully achieved through the division of established clumps. Perform this task in early spring just as new growth begins to emerge or in the early fall before the onset of cold weather. Carefully excavate the entire crown and gently separate the root ball into sections, ensuring each new division has several healthy growth points attached. Immediately replant the divisions into their new locations at the same depth they were previously growing, ensuring soil is firmed gently around the roots and watered in well to minimize transplant shock.
