STOKESIA (original) (raw)
Shot at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in Bangalore
Description:
Stokes' aster is an herbaceous perennial with 6-8 in (15-20 cm) evergreen petiolate (stalked) basal leaves. In late spring it sprouts several erect stems which have smaller, clasping leaves and stand about 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) tall, each bearing 1-4 shaggy cornflower-like flowerheads 3-4 in (7.6-10 cm) across. The ray florets are fringed and blue, lavender, pink or white, in two concentric rows, and the disc florets are darker shades of the same colors. Flowering goes on for several weeks.
There are many cultivars available: 'Blue Danube' has large. 4 in (10 cm), lavender flowerheads; 'Blue Moon' has deep blue flowerheads; 'Bluestone' is small, to 10 in (25 cm) high; 'Wyoming' has the darkest blue flowerheads of all; 'Rosea' has rosy-pink flowerheads; 'Alba' has white flowerheads; 'Silver Moon' has larger, silvery-white flowerheads; 'Omega Skyrocket' is vigorous, 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) tall and has long-stemmed white to pale blue flowerheads; 'Mary Gregory' is really different: it has yellow flowerheads!