Stokesia laevis Mels Blue 1G

(Stokes' Aster)

‘Mel’s Blue’ brings a color you rarely get from native perennials: true periwinkle blue, the kind that makes yellow and fuchsia explode in contrast. But its value goes far beyond color. As a selection of Maryland’s own Stokesia laevis, it blooms right through the mid‑summer nectar gap, offering consistent pollen when native bees need it most.

Compact, heat‑tolerant, and drought‑ready once established, this Stokesia thrives in full sun and average soil. Rabbits tend to leave it alone, and its long bloom window keeps the garden active well into early fall. Plant it, and you’re giving pollinators a reliable blue beacon in the hottest part of the season.

• Plant Patent: 23,090 
• Container Size:  trade gallon
• USDA Zone: 5-9 
• Height: 1-1.5’ 
• Spread: 6-12” 
• Sun Exposure: full sun 
• Soil Moisture: average 
• Bloom Time: summer to early fall 
• Bloom Color: periwinkle blue 
• Foliage Color: green 
• US Native: native selection 
• Wildlife Benefit:  
• Notes: drought tolerant, rabbit tolerant