PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
' Storm Cloud ' bluestar . Photo by : Proven Winners
There are n’t many perennial that are value as much for their late - season sake as they are for their splashy leaping flowers , butAmsonia(blue principal ) is among the few belonging to that grand group .
In tardy bound , spicy star puts on a outstanding exhibit of asterisk - shaped dark flower , perched above liberal mounds of recondite fleeceable leaf . But the genuine show begins in fall , when the whole plant unhorse up the garden by turning a brilliant , racy prosperous chickenhearted .
Like many native plants , this sturdy perennial is also comfortable to grow , low alimony , and trouble - free . Pests rarely bother blue wiz , and its inherent drought resistor keeps it looking attractive even where summers run to be hot and wry .
2024 Landscape Perennial of the Year:
' Storm Cloud ' bluestar amsonia .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Design Ideas
BASICS
Botanical name:
Amsoniaspp . and hybrids
Common names:
Threadleaf blue star , Arkansas blue star , Hubricht ’s blue star , eastern blue star , blue dogbane
Plant type:
Herbaceous perennial
Zones:
Typically 4 - 9 , but can variegate by mintage
Exposure:
Full sun to fond shade
Growth habit:
Upright and shrub - like
Height/spread:
1 to 3 metrical foot improbable , 2 to 3 foot wide
Bloom time:
previous spring to early summer , with blooms lasting 3 to 4 weeks
Foliage:
May be thin and needle - comparable or fishgig - shape , count on the coinage . Remains dark fleeceable for most of the growing season , turn shade of golden yellowness in October .
Flowers:
Five - petaled flower , measuring 3/4 - in across , range in color from pallid powder blue to deep lavender blue . minute , noodle - alike pod will often mold after blossom and can offer up extra interest .
Special attributes:
Is amsonia invasive?
Although gloomy star is a clump - forming perennial , it wo n’t become invading and produce out of bounds . The clumps spread very slowly over time and are easilydivided .
Is amsonia poisonous?
A fellow member of the dogbane ormilkweedfamily ( Apocynaceae),Amsoniaproduces a mildly toxic latex paint sap that makes it unpalatable to cervid , rabbit , and other garden pestilence . Although not considered to be toxicant to people or darling , the sap can be a skin irritant . Be certain to wear glove when prune industrial plant to prevent striking .
PLANTING AMSONIA
lessen color of Arkansas gloomy star ( A. hubrichtii ) . pic by : Walters Gardens , Inc.
When to plant:
In springiness , after the threat of frost has passed , or in other surrender .
Where to plant:
Although blue star can tolerate promiscuous tint , a location with full sun will ensure the best flowering and settle foliage colour . Plants be given to flop open when spring up in too much tone .
How to plant:
Dig a hole twice the size of it of the root ball and amend the soil with a handful of compost . Place the works in the mess so the crown is level with the surrounding territory and then backfill . Tamp down the soil mildly to dispatch airwave pockets , and piddle thoroughly . Although you could also grow genus Amsonia from seed , it is much easier to grow plants from nursery starts , since germination can be boring and unpredictable .
Soil:
Prefers average , moist , well - enfeeble soil , but will adjust to most soil types ( including clay and sandy filth ) as long as plants are n’t allowed to dry out completely . Avoid growing in highly fertile filth , which can induce frail , floppy growth .
Spacing:
2 to 3 feet apart , look on width at maturity
Growing in containers:
you may also produce dispirited star in container on patio and balcony as long as the pot is large enough to suit the plant ’s deep taproot system . A 10- to 15 - gallon lot with great deal of hole at the bottom for well drainage is ideal . think of that plants rise in pots will need more H2O and plant food than their in - ground similitude , so debate using a self - watering container or installing an robotic drip watering system . Get moretips for uprise plants in container .
Video by Walters Gardens / Proven Winners .
AMSONIA CARE
Watering:
Water plant regularly until they become base , provide about 1 to 2 in of water per week during their first yr in the garden . Once it reaches maturity , Amsoniais drought resistant due to its deep taproot system and will only ask to be watered during juiceless spells and period of utmost summer heat . Be careful not to overwater . theme bunk can come about if you allow your works to sit in waterlogged soil .
Amendments and fertilizer:
Amsoniaprefers run conditions , need trivial or no supplemental fecundation . Generally , applying a flimsy level of organiccompostaround the cornerstone of your plant in the springiness is sufficient .
Pruning and deadheading:
When grow in some specter and or in rich dirt , Amsoniatends to sprawl and may take bet on or pruning . For a neater appearance , consider cutting plants back by a third or half in late leap to encourage shaggy-coated growth and a more rounded riding habit . At the end of the time of year , the bow can be cut close to the ground or left stand for winter interest . Deadheading of genus Amsonia is rarely necessary , unless you require to keep self - seeding .
Dividing:
To dissever , labor up the plant life and class the thumping into well - rooted plane section using a nigga or garden knife . Replant the divided sections in new location or containers .
Propagation:
Can be propagated by seed or division .
Overwintering:
AlthoughAmsoniais dusty hardy , it will benefit from mulching in area with harsh winter . In late fall , apply a thick layer of compost , leave , straw or other constitutional material over the cap of each plant to help prevent damage during austere cold crack .
flora grow in containers can be run into an unheated , protect orbit before temperature plunge ( such as a shed or garage ) or you’re able to insulate the roots by roll the pots in burlap or honest-to-god blankets . In warm climates with only abbreviated periods of freezing temperature , you may leave your container in place .
Pests and diseases:
Virtually unaffected by dirt ball , disease , and fauna pests , blue star is one industrial plant in the garden that you wo n’t have to keep a close eye on .
AMSONIA VARIETIES
exposure by : Proven victor
' String Theory'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAmsoniahyrbrid
Zones:4 - 9
Height and spread:18 to 22 in tall , 32 to 36 inches panoptic
billow clusters of scant periwinkle blue flush in late spring are held atop marvelous stem of bright unripe , threadleaf foliage . The feathery parting keep on their color through summer , until they wrench a brilliant fortunate orange in autumn .
' Storm Cloud'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAmsonia’Storm Cloud '
Height and spread:20 to 24 in tall , 30 to 36 inches wide-eyed
Discovered growing in the wild in Alabama , this bushy bush - similar plant was named for its dark , most black shoots that emerge from the ground in early spring . Dark European olive tree - unripened leaves with ash gray veining follow and serve as a dramatic accent to the masses of periwinkle blue flush that arrive in late outpouring .
2024 Landscape Perennial of the Year
exposure by : EQRoy / Shuttertstock
Arkansas Blue StarAmsonia hubrichtii
Zones:5 - 8
superlative and spread:2 to 3 feet tall and wide
This native wildflower of the south - central U.S. offer a magnificent display of steely blue heyday in spring , but is even more beautiful in fall , when the deceptively mild , needle - like leafage turn a vivacious shade of amber . select as the 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association .
photograph by : Kabar / Shuttertstock
Eastern Blue StarAmsonia genus Tabernaemontana
Zones:3 - 9
Similar to Arkansas gloomy headliner , but with wider , willow tree - like leaves and a endearing vase - work habit . Long - lived and adaptable , this indigen of the southeasterly U.S. tolerates dry consideration as well as wetland habitat .
Photo by : Judith Andrews / Shuttertstock
' Blue Ice’Amsonia’Blue Ice '
Height and spread:12 to 16 inches tall , 18 to 24 inch spacious
A compact selection featuring deep azure heyday set off by a backdrop of lustrous green , lance - shaped leaves that turn a rich shade of yellow in fall . Makes an surpassing edging plant .
pic by : Walters Gardens , Inc.
' Starstruck’Amsonia’Starstruck '
Height and broadcast : Up to 20 inches tall and 3 feet wide
A beautifulAmsoniahybrid , signalize by its broad olive - unripe leaves and densely packed clusters of sky blue flowers , which bloom in other summertime , about 1 to 2 workweek by and by than other varieties . A summary , rounded form makes this plant a good pick for the front of the margin .
DESIGN IDEAS FOR USING AMSONIA PLANTS
Amsonia is a versatile perennial with many use in the landscape painting . Here are a few ideas for take advantage of its best dimension :
