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Discovered by plantswoman Peachie Paxton of Mississippi, 'Peachie's Pick' is similar to other native Stokesia, however it blooms longer and later on taller more sturdy stems. It has an upright bush-like habit and 6-inch long, lanceolate, deep green leaves that are evergreen in warm climates. Beginning around mid summer, the leafy flower stems rise above the foliage displaying abundant, exotic-looking, 3-inch diameter fluffy flowers, each with notched violet-blue rays surrounding a pincushion-like center of feathery florets. If spent flowers are occasionally deadheaded the plant will continue blooming well into fall. Its longer and more sturdy stems make it a superb variety for cut flowers. Highly adaptable and super tough and easy to grow, Peachie's Pick is both heat and cold tolerant (-20F), grows in full sun to part shade, and prefers a consistently moist soil but is surprisingly drought tolerant when established. A great garden performer that will bring you and the butterflies and other beneficial pollinators many years of enjoyment with almost no maintenance required.

Growing in a mound 12 to 18 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, Peachie's Pick Stokes Aster is ideal for use as an accent in smaller garden spaces and large mixed container gardens and is truly breathtaking in groupings or mass plantings in larger perennial gardens or along paths and walkways. A fine addition to butterfly gardens, beneficial pollinator gardens, native plant gardens, cut flower gardens, cottage gardens, purple theme gardens, native plant gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs when established).

Suggested Spacing:  18 inches apart for mass plantings; 36 inches apart for space between plants

Peachie's Pick Stokes Aster is exceptionally easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average to even low fertility in full to mostly sun. We suggest at least 5 hours of direct sun for best flowering. As with many other perennial plants, constantly waterlogged soils can be problematic. Heavy, dense clay soils should be amended with organic matter to improve drainage. Plant with the top of the root ball even with ground level. Care and maintenance are minimal. Deadheading spent flowers isn't necessary however will encourage reblooming well into fall. Feed in spring with an organic plant food.