Blue Star Flower Planting Guide

Blue star is often used as an accent in garden borders.

Amsonia, commonly known as blue star, is a hardy perennial plant. With a compact growth habit, attractive blue star-shaped flowers and a resistance to deer, it serves as an attractive addition to any landscape. Ranging in height from 12 to 36 inches, blue star has dense green foliage that turns yellow in the fall. Its flowers range in color from pale blue to rich blue, depending on variety. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 to 8. Blue star is easy to plant and requires minimal care.

Things You'll Need

• Spade or shovel

Instructions

1. Decide how you want blue star to function in your landscape. It can serve as an accent or as a feature in borders and cottage gardens, for instance, or as a ground cover. Consider your landscape needs when incorporating blue star into your garden. Larger varieties of blue star can be used as shrubs.

2. Choose a variety of blue star. Common varieties include Arkansas blue star (Amsonia hubrichtii), the Perennial Plant Association's 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year; willow blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana); Amsonia ciliate; Amsonia "Blue Ice"; and Amsonia elliptica, a rare variety with rich blue flowers.

3. Plant blue star in full to partial sun. It grows well in most soils, as long as there is adequate drainage. Water to keep the soil moderately moist. Blue star is generally pest-free. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant and requires little care.

References

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Amsonia Tabernaemontana; April 2009
• Monrovia: Blue Star Flower
• Perennial Plant Association: Amsonia Hubrichtii
• The Plantsman; Amsonia in Cultivation; Rich Darke; June 2005
• Perennial Reference: Amsonia-Willow Blue Star