Stokesia laevis Traumerei

Stokesia laevis 'Traümerei', also known as Chinese Aster or American Cornflower, blooms at the end of summer with white flowers resembling large fluffy asters, with a touch of pink in the centre. They appear at the top of stiff and hairy stems, carried above a tough and slender basal foliage. This beautiful semi-evergreen perennial that resists almost anything, is too rare in our gardens and deserves to be planted more often in sunny borders and beds, rockeries or even large pots. Also excellent as cut flowers.

Stokesia laevis belongs to the asteraceae family. It is native to China and has been naturalised for a very long time in the southeastern United States. In the wild, it grows in wet places, pine forests, savannas, and ditches. The 'Traumerei' cultivar is an herbaceous perennial with a basal rosette of elliptical to lanceolate, 20 cm (8in) long leaves, slightly spiny at the base, with a lighter central vein. The plant reaches maturity in three years, forming a spreading clump 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18in) in all directions. The erect stems bear smaller, dark and vibrant green leaves, forming a complementary contrast with the very soft-looking flowers. The stems develop numerous decorative pinkish flower buds at their tips in August-September, which will open into 8 cm (3in) diameter fluffy, frilly flower heads, resembling carnations. The fringed, white petals are arranged around a darker, feathery central disc, with a shade of pink or peach. The very nectar-rich flowers attract many butterflies.

The American Cornflower is a fantastic ornamental plant. There is something pure and harmonious about it that resembles wildflowers. Perfectly hardy and undemanding in terms of soil quality, it is happy in a sunny corner of the garden. It looks wonderful planted in groups with damask flowers and cosmos, in front of summer or autumn aster beds, accompanied by purple coneflowers, shrubby salvias, daylilies, and gauras. It can also be used to create lovely pots and charming bouquets.