Blue Star Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Blue Star:
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-SO-nee-uh tab-er-nay-mon-TAY-nuh sal-iss-ih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Willow Leaf Bluestar is a native herbaceous perennial in the dogbane family found in all areas of NC. It grows 2-3 feet tall and wide and forms an attractive vase-shaped clump with willow-like leaves that turn a nice yellow in fall. In spring it is adorned with clusters of pale blue star-shaped flowers that are visited by pollinators. It is easy to grow and deer and rabbit resistant.
Willow Leaf Bluestar is native to moist sites but is adaptable to medium moisture well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It is adaptable to both clay and sandy soils and is somewhat drought tolerant once established. If grown in shadier conditions the stems may tend to flop over and should be cut to 1/2 their height after flowering to promote bushier growth.
Use this plant in native/pollinator gardens, borders, as an accent or mass planted. It can be sited in moist sites such as rain gardens or edges of waterways as well as drier sites.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amsonia
- Species:
- tabernaemontana
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Multi-stemmed
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Narrow cylindrical seed pods 4 to 6 inches long that split along the side to release seeds a row of 8-10 seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Light blue star-shaped flowers with a ring of white hairs in the throat bloom in clusters on terminal stems early to mid-spring into early summer. Each ¾ inch wide flower has a tubular corolla with 5 spreading lobes that narrow to a point at the tips.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Green lanceolate leaves with entire margins up to 6 inches long and 2.5 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth green stems contain a latex sap
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
