Other Names:  Stoke's Aster

Group/Class:  Totally Stoked™ Series

Brand:  Proven Winners

Description:

A wonderful series of asters that thrive in heat and humidity; upright mounded plant produce charming periwinkle blue flowers throughout the summer months; drought tolerant once established; great addition to garden landscapes; deadheading is recommended

Ornamental Features

Totally Stoked™ Riptide Aster has masses of beautiful fragrant double powder blue daisy flowers with creamy white eyes and white anthers held atop the stems from early summer to early fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Totally Stoked™ Riptide Aster is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Totally Stoked™ Riptide Aster is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Totally Stoked™ Riptide Aster will grow to be about 20 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 32 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 32 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.