When it arrives
Your plug tray
Plugs are small and tender. Pot into 4-inch pots and grow on 3–5 weeks in bright light, or plant out after frost. Keep evenly moist, harden off a week, and set the plug top level with the soil.
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Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
Whitecaps grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 26.0 in
- Mature spread
- 36.0 in
- Bloom
- Mid-July – peak Early-August
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Moderately resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow Whitecaps
Stokes' Aster · Stokesia laevis
Plant in full sun in moist but well-drained soil. A native of the Southeast, it blooms through summer and is hardy in the North if the crown doesn't sit wet in winter.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Full sunLight
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Moderate waterAverage drainage
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pH 5.5–7.0Soil
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Zones 5a–9bHardiness
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26″ tall36″ wide
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Some resistanceDeer · rabbits some resistance
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Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Whitecaps will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 5a–9b
Spring or early fall.
Your year with Whitecaps
JFMAMJJASOND
When to plant
Spring or early fall.
How deep
Set the crown level with the soil surface.
Spacing
12–18 inches.
Soil
Sandy loam or loam · pH 5.5–7.0
Fix-it tip: Add compost to improve both clay and sand. Good winter drainage is critical; avoid heavy wet clay.
Sun
Full sun (tolerates light part shade).
Shade reduces bloom.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
Basal leaves may stay green over mild winters. New growth starts in early to mid spring; bloom from early summer into late summer.
Spring
Tidy old leaves; compost.
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Summer
Deadhead for more blooms.
Fall
Cut back flower stalks.
Winter
Light mulch in zone 5.
Watering
First season: Keep evenly moist the first season.
After that: Fairly drought tolerant once settled; water in dry spells.
Feeding
Light compost in spring.
Pruning & deadheading
Deadhead to extend bloom. Cut flower stalks back after bloom; leave basal leaves.
Dividing
Every 4 years if the clump thins; divide in spring.
Winter
Hardy to about zone 5. A light mulch helps in zone 5; wet winter soil is the main killer.
Summer heat
Handles heat and humidity well.
Dies over winter
Likely cause: Wet soil
What to do: Replant in a better-drained spot.
Few blooms
Likely cause: Too much shade
What to do: Move to full sun.
Floppy flower stems
Likely cause: Rich soil or shade
What to do: Skip fertilizer; give more sun.
Too wet or too dry?
Rot in spring after a wet winter means poor drainage.
Watch for
- Crown rot in wet winter soil
- Leaf spot
- Few insect problems
Pets & wildlife
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Works in pots with good drainage.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs winter dormancy outdoors.
Winter chill
No chill needed
Often blooms the first summer from plugs; no chill needed.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 2 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it near your lavender
Grows near lavender in full sun but likes a bit more summer moisture. Put it in a neighboring bed where you can water it without wetting lavender.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
Community Grower Report
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