Am contemplating getting one or two of these to "blue" up an area where my hebe was, but won't if they are just going to die if we get another tough winter. Does anyone happen to have this variety and did it survive for you?
I've never grown Stokesia, but having had a quick google I might give it a try. Apparently it's hardy but needs good drainage especially in winter so if you have retentive soil that stays damp/wet when it rains, it might be less likely to survive the winter than in free-draining sandy soil.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
My RHS book says that it is fully hardy. Fertile soil and good drainage in full sun or partial shade. The flower shape looks good for the bees doesn't it? I would have a go, it looks lovely.
I have a stokesia laevis 'blue star' in a large tub near my patio. It survived the minus temperatures over winter, though some of the leaves are a bit ragged but I am expecting it to be fine.
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I have a stokesia laevis 'blue star' in a large tub near my patio. It survived the minus temperatures over winter, though some of the leaves are a bit ragged but I am expecting it to be fine.
Oh, thank you for that, @clematis. Is it the sort of plant you could apply a thick mulch over to help it over the winter, do you think? The flowers have caught my eye but I can't visualise the plant.
Yes, I gave mine a good mulch in late autumn @WAMS and added more when the winter weather turned cold, but in my experience it is hardy and did not need lots of mollycoddling. It seems to look after itself and is growing neatly. The leaves form a tight low clump over winter. I bought mine last spring, so it is only small. I think Stoke's aster generally looks particularly good in a clump or group. I am thinking of planting more!
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Luxembourg
@GardenerSuze it *is* helpful to know something is not immensely popular. Perhaps there's a reason for it