Dig into Plants: Stokes Aster

Stokes Aster

Scientific Name: Stokesia laevis

Native to Alabama: Yes

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Sally and Andy Wasowski

Learn More About...

BASIC INFORMATION

ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS

MAINTENANCE NOTES

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

LEAF, FLOWER & SEED ID

PLANT LIFE CYCLE

Basic Plant Information

Flickr – Kristine Paulus

I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
I do not keep leaves year-round in colder climates and keep my leaves year-round in mild climates, so I am semi-evergreen.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can grow 1 – 2 feet high and 1 – 1.5 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Caterpillars
Pearl Crescent
Checkerspot Butterflies

Native Bees

Other Birds

Other Plants Found in Alabama with Similar Ecological Benefits:

Broad-leaved Aster
(Symphyotrichum cordifolium)

Drummond’s Aster
(Symphyotrichum drummondii)

Rice Button Aster
(Symphyotrichum dumosumi)

White Heath Aster
(Symphyotrichum ericoides)

Calico Aster
(Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

Skyblue Aster
(Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)

Willowleaf Aster
(Symphyotrichum praealtum)

Smooth Blue Aster
(Symphyotrichum laeve)

Maintenance Notes

Not dormant in the winter unless in a climate where temperatures are colder.
In warm winter climates leaves are evergreen.
Flowers can be cut for an indoor vase.
Deadhead individual faded flowers to encourage additional bloom.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires heavy watering with good drainage.

Heavy watering with good drainage: water two-three times per week during the summer and twice per week during the rest of the year.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/ Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)

Prefers heavy watering with good drainage

Well-drained, Acidic,
or Moist Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Stephanie Brundage

LEAF DESCRIPTION

Basal leaves are lanceolate with entire margins, stem leaves are linear with serrate margins and the leaves have no hair on them.

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Lanceolate or Linear	Margin: Entire or Serrate

Arrangement: Alternate	Form: Simple

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Alan Cressler

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Fragrant; solitary pompom-like cluster of flowers on end of branch upon a whorl of leafy bracts; bilabiate (two-lipped) with narrow upper lip and broad lower lip.

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: White, blue, purple	Shape: Stellate (star-shaped)	Bloom Months: May – Sep

davesgarden.com – MyGardens2009

SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds and Rhizomes/ Tubers/ Roots & Shoots
Will spread via roots to form new clumps


Type: Fruit – Dry Seed Pod	Description: papery-brown bracts surround nutlets, which are ¼ inches when mature	Months in Seed: Summer

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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