Willow Leaf Bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- 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 (Apocynaceae) found in all areas of NC in moist sites. Genus name honors Dr. John Amson. Specific epithet honors Jakob Theodor von Bergzabern.
Willow leaf bluestar grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, forming an attractive vase-shaped clump. It prefers moist well-drained loamy soils but is adaptable to clay and sandy soils. It does best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. In part shade conditions it may become floppy and need to be staked, so prune after flowering to encourage bushiness.
In spring it is adorned with clusters of pale blue star-shaped flowers that pollinators visit. The willow-like leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall. It is easy to grow and is deer and rabbit-resistant.
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.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
More information on Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana.
- 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
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- 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 Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- 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 Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- 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
