Stokesia laevis 'MEGA MELS'

Stoke’s aster is a genus of just this one species. I fell in love with this charming perennial the first time I laid my eyes on it when I first saw it at Plantarium exhibition in Boskoop, the Netherlands, where it was presented as a little known, showy perennial.

Mega Mels is a provocative variety of Stoke’s aster producing enormously large flowers that are 10-12 cm across! It was found by Dutch grower Adrianus van Heesbeen from Rijsbergen. The flowers have cornflower-like flowerheads of rich lavender violet colour. They open from late July and if regularly deadheaded they continue popping up until autumn. The flowers take a few days before they mature completely to the flat shape but on the other hand they are quite long-lasting which is why they are very popular for cutting. The leaves are evergreen in milder climates, medium green, narrowly lance-shaped, long at the basal rosette, and quite short along the stems. The variety was awarded Bronze Medal at Plantarium in 2019.

Stoke’s aster comes from S.E. USA where it grows naturally on the edges of conifer woods, in moist, acid soil. It is hardy enough to be grown in Europe, too, down to zone 5b provided the soil is sharply-drained in order to avoid winter root rot. Grow it in full sun for profusion of flowers and make sure the soil is acid which will enhance the flower colour. Hardiness confirmed so far to -24°C (USDA zone 6).

Last update 08-09-2019