The Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster, otherwise known as the Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ is a pretty well known shrub plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world.
Best known for its low maintenance and moderate growth, this shrub will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its green colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
Fortunately, taking care of your Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster is not too difficult – as long as you follow our guidelines in this Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster Care Guide. Now let’s get started.
In order to take proper care of your Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster you’ll need to keep in mind the following guidelines:
- Water: The Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
- Light: Keep your Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ in an environment where it can receive partial to full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Make sure to keep the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster in soil with moist but well-draining properties, so ideally, one that is made of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
That’s it – sunlight, water and soil! The basic 3 fundamentals for all plant care, and with the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster this is no exception. With these three elements, your leafy friend will live healthy and happy.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
In botanical terms, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster belongs to the Oleaceae family, the genus Syringa and the species Reticulata, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ (sto-KEES-ee-uh LEE-viss).
As with other Syringa’s, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster is a herbaceous plant, which means it will die back to the ground every year.
Growing Region
As a rule of thumb, we recommend to always keep in mind your plants’ native region and environment, since these are the conditions that your Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster is most accustomed to, thus where it can most favorably.
With this in mind, the Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ will be most used to the heat zones in the 3 – 8 region, and in climate zones that range between 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, A2, A3.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster is a relatively moderate grower, which makes things somewhat easy for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But, how big does the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster actually get? What should you expect in terms of size? Let’s dive right in…
The Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ can grow up to 20′ – 25′ (6m – 7.5m) in 20′ – 25′ (6m – 7.5m) and 15′ – 20′ (4.5m – 6m) in 15′ – 20′ (4.5m – 6m).
Water
In terms of watering, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster is a fairly simple plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a straightforward watering schedule and somewhat regular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively average needs in terms of water.
Watering
As a rule of thumb, you should remember to keep your Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster in soil with moist but well-draining characteristics, as these will guarantee the right conditions for your plant to grow and thrive.
When you consider this, this is why you should aim to choose soil that has good drainage, and moist properties to keep the right moisture levels at all times.
In our experience, the famous ‘thumb’ or ‘finger’ test is what works best for the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster since with it, you will be able to give it the right amount of water, every time – regardless of the environment or placement where you do decide to keep it.
Soil Mix
As mentioned earlier, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster prefers to have soil with good drainage, and moist properties at all times, reason why you need to make the soil mix out of clay, loam, chalk, and sand.
This is why most experts agree that the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster requires soil with high organic matter, which will give you the right conditions it needs.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably alkaline, acid or neutral soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster requires partial to full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this shrub will do well as long as you keep it in full sun, and it will be able to grow properly.
Specifically, we recommend that you place your Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ in full and direct sun (more than 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).
Season
Being a herbaceous plant, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster will die back to the ground every year.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the summer (early).
Flowers
You can expect your Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster to flower around the summer months from July to September (summer).
In particular, this shrub is well known for its flowers for cutting and showy flowers around the plant enthusiast community.
The Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster produces some beautiful multicolored, or cream/tan and white flowers around this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster have a beautiful green color during most of the year.
In particular, they have a simple arrangement with a opposite organization in its leaves.
Attracts, Tolerance and Resistance
The Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster is well known for being able to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, so keep that in mind when choosing your plant, as you’ll likely end up finding one or another in your garden.
Additionally, it has a special tolerance for clay soil, drought and animals like deer, so don’t worry if any of these come along, your Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ will be fine.
Garden
Now, let’s talk garden and how your Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster will look best in it.
Most Stokesia Laevis ‘Color Wheel’ owners agree that this shrub will look great in most mediterranean, cottage and rustic gardens of all types.
Other owners consider that they complement well most gardens of informal and cottage, and in traditional garden styles.
In particular, the Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster’s best location within your garden is in beds and borders, others use it for landscaping in a container, edging, border, cutting garden, or a mass planting.
Companion Plants
Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster’s do well with some other plants beside it. One good companion plant is the Phlox, which will pair up nicely with your leafy friend.
Others consider that a nice Campanula will work well too, so choose whichever you find works best for you!
Conclusion
And we’ve come to an end. Fortunately, that’s everything you need to know about your Color Wheel Stokes’ Aster to keep it safe and sound in your garden or home. Enjoy planting!
