Product Description
Amsonia hubrechtii Blue Star (4) 1-gallons
Common Name: Blue Star, Arkansas Amsonia
This southern native has very narrow, needle-like leaves that line the stems like bottle brushes. Surprisingly, they are soft as silk to the touch. From late spring thru early summer, 2-3" wide clusters of small, light blue, star-shaped flowers are borne above the short mound of ferny foliage. After blooming, it quickly grows to reach a height of about 3 feet.
Amsonia adds a billowy, finely textured element to the landscape. It grows into a dense mass, much like a small shrub. The cool blue flowers can be useful in toning down adjacent flower colors.
The most valuable feature of A. hubrichtii is its fall color; the entire plant turns a stunning shade of golden yellow. It makes an excellent backdrop for fall-blooming perennials such as sedums and garden mums.
Amsonia thrives in most gardens with little care. It is low-maintenance, easy to grow and trouble-free. Plant it in full sun or partial shade and moist soil of average fertility. If grown in too much shade or very rich soil, its habit will be open and floppy. This plant grows fairly large but it will not need to be divided for many years. Cutting the stems back to within 6-8" of the ground after flowering will result in fuller growth.
Amsonia hubrichtii is native to fields and meadows in the midwest. It can be found growing naturally in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
Missouri Botanical Garden Emeritus Plants of Merit
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal Plant -- 2014
2011 Perennial Plant of the Year
Height: 3.0 Feet
Spread: 3.0 Feet
Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Blue shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) - Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Poor to Average Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Late Spring - Early Summer
Deer Resistant
Seasonal Interest: Fall Color
Growth Rate: Rapid
Border Plant, Cut Foliage, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting, Specimen, Focal Point, Native to North America
(4) 1-gallon containers ready to plant, plants maybe trimmed for shipping,
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
