Stokesia, Cornflower Aster, Stokes' Aster, Stokes Aster 'Purple Parasols'

I purchased three Purple Parasol plants in the fall of 2009 from a Monrovia dealer. They did not flower the following year but really put...Read More on a show in the spring of 2011. They had a long bloom time.The flowering stalks were very long and could not support the weight of the blossoms.They made great cut flowers, however.
Unfortunately, during 2010 and 2011 they required nearly daily watering or they'd wilt badly. My main complaint was the apparent high demand for water. I would not classify this plant as drought resistant.
The high water demand and the drooping flower stalks were balanced by the beauty and the profusion of the flowers, thus the neutral rating.

Note from the breeder, Scott Warren. Plant patented - propagation prohibited.

This is a really pretty plant. The color changes are slight, but add depth. The purples are quite bright and look pretty with bright pink...Read Mores, blues, magentas, and yellows.

Be careful when deadheading since the deadheads look similar to the buds.

I have mine growing in highly amended NJ clay, in an area that is sunny except for 2-5 pm. It flops a teensy bit, but I bet it wouldn't if it had full sun. It's out by the street and gets almost no supplemental water, but it looks great. Lots of flowers and a fairly long bloom time.

If you deadhead the faded blooms to the first leaf, you will get a second flush of lateral blooms. Be careful - once the spent blooms drop their petals they look a lot like the buds.

The flowers open light blue, and become deep violet as they age.