Japanese name: ストケシア Scientific name:Stokesia laevis
[Overview]
A perennial 30–60 cm tall.
The stem branches.
The leaves include basal leaves and simple leaves alternate on the stem, both broadly lanceolate.
Blue-purple capitula 6–10 cm across are borne at the branch tips; the central flowers are tubular and the marginal flowers are ray-shaped, with the edge deeply cut into 5 lobes.
The involucral bracts are green and leaf-like.
The fruit is an achene.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by root cuttings.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, sandy soil.
If the environment suits it, it grows well even when left alone, and since it spreads by extending its roots well, when planting in a garden it is better to make a frame underground to keep it from multiplying too much.
Take care not to let it become too wet; for potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
Apply organic fertilizer as base fertilizer, and give the same kind of fertilizer after flowering as thanks fertilizer.
If you are not collecting seed, cutting off the flowers as early as possible keeps the plant from tiring.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
