Stokes'-aster
Stokesia laevis
Last reviewed: August 2026
Stokesia laevis, or Stokes' aster, is a clumping perennial forb that blooms from May through August in full sun to part shade across the warm, humid Southeast. Its lavender-blue flowerheads attract native bees and butterflies.
Toxicity unknown
Stokes'-aster (Stokesia laevis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, FL, GA, LA and 3 more states
Pollinators
native bees, butterflies
Before you buy
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A low clumping plant with a neat evergreen basal rosette and large fringed lavender-blue flower heads on short stems. It blooms over a long season and stays tidy enough for a front border edge.
Growing Stokes'-aster
Grow Stokes'-aster in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Broad landing-pad flower heads draw a wide range of small butterflies and native bees through midsummer.
Common questions
- When does Stokes' aster bloom?
- Stokes' aster typically flowers from May through August, producing rounded lavender-blue blooms on upright stems throughout the summer months.
- What growing conditions does Stokes' aster need?
- It grows best in full sun with medium moisture soil, though established plants handle short dry spells and brief periods of wet soil without much trouble.
- Does Stokes' aster tolerate shade?
- Stokes' aster performs best in full sun but will still bloom, though somewhat less densely, in part sun or light part shade conditions.
- What pollinators visit Stokes' aster?
- The flowerheads are commonly visited by native bees and butterflies searching for nectar during the summer bloom period.
- Is Stokes' aster evergreen?
- In milder, humid climates the basal foliage often persists through winter as a semi-evergreen rosette, dying back more fully where winters are colder.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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