Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
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.
Mel's Blue Stokes Aster Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 |
| Plant Type: Perennials |
| Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 12 - 24 Inches |
| Mature Spread: 12 - 24 Inches |
| Spacing: 12 - 18 Inches |
| Habit: Mounded |
| Flower Color(s): Blue |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: July and Last through Late Summer |
| Foliage Type: Deciduous, Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Rabbit |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Butterflies |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Borders, Containers, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: Plants That Work |
| Common Name: Mel's Blue Stokes Aster |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: STOKESIA LAEVIS `MEL`S BLUE` |
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!