Stokes Aster - other names are Cornflower aster and Stokesia. Its botanical name is Stokesia laevis
I like the color of these asters. Apparently it is an easy flower to grow, a perennial and named after a botanist and physician called Jonathan Stokes. In 1754 Stokes was born in the City of Worcester, England, into a Quaker family who had a market garden and flower selling business. After schooling at James Fell's Quaker School in Worcester, Stokes joined his father in the nursery business. In late 1778, at the age of 24, he went to Edinburgh to study medicine, and his story goes on from there. You can read more at this link.
Jonathan Stokes spent much of his career doing clinical studies on plants and was credited with cataloguing a number of species and developing successful medical treatments from some of the plants he studied.
As for the flower itself, deer and rabbits don't like to eat it, but it is well-liked by many bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Gardeners like to add them to attract butterflies particularly and fortunately, it is not toxic to humans or pets.
They are a beaut flower, Denise. Off to read what the links follow.
ReplyDeleteTake care.