Got Amnesia Around What Amsonia Is? Let's Fix That

Some plants’ names are familiar to virtually everyone, gardeners and non-gardeners alike. But Amsonia surely is not one of those names. Nevertheless, that is easily fixed, and knowing this classification of plants is quite rewarding. 

What Is Amsonia?

If you find yourself experiencing a bit of “amnesia” surrounding what Amsonia is, the fact that it is part of the dogbane family may serve as little-to-no help. But the name Bluestar/Blue Star may spark your memory of this category of native North American perennial. 

From late spring to the middle of summer, the medium-tall stems of Amsonia explode at their tops in firework-style displays of pale blue starlike blooms. The “stars” are positioned on the plant in such a way that they have a light and airy look, but they are still very noticeable atop green foliage (in the case of Eastern Bluestar, green, lance-shaped, and thin enough to quiver as summer breezes cool things down).

Gardeners typically recognize Amsonia varieties by their names, which, as you might expect, tend always to note either their flowers’ coveted blue color or the celestial flair of their blooms. Who doesn’t like the color blue? Who doesn’t love stars? ‘Starstruck’, ‘Blue Ice’, ‘Storm Cloud’: There are many options, and their names herald what makes Amsonia special. 

Amsonia has stems that are strong and fibrous. There is no way to snap or pull the stems loose from the woody base of a mature plant. When pruners are used to take down the stems after bloom time has ended (not necessary for some plants such as the compact ‘Blue Ice’), a white latex sap will appear… a sap to be kept off hands and away from pets. This sap, which is almost like white school glue, is similar to that of the Milkweeds. In the same family of plants, the Milkweeds and Amsonia draw in pollinators. But deer and rabbits avoid this gluey sap, and so the stems typically stay intact over the long haul. In the case of ‘Blue Ice’, this means that the foliage will have a chance to turn golden as summer turns to fall… nice visual interest in the cooler months, before the plant drops its leaves.

Where to Plant Amsonia

The Bluestars can do well in inhospitable soils. My plant is situated in a bed that is compacted and firm… gritty and not very nutrient-rich. Most plants do not do well in this area, but because there is no chance of waterlogged roots in this part of my garden, my plant is happy. I fertilize it from time, but nothing too much... and I enjoy its good looks.

My Amsonia started out small, sending up just a handful of stems in its first year. But now, it has filled out respectably, giving the impression that it is more than one plant. But “spreading” is not something that a Bluestar does. It stays politely within its own bounds, filling out and adding stems to its clump but never invading the garden.

Care for Amsonia

Care for this herbaceous perennial is what one would expect of just about any plant: periodic watering, ensuring good drainage, and planting it where it can get substantial sunlight with an afternoon respite in the shade. Beyond that, gardeners need not worry about much at all.

The “Look” of Amsonia

So where do the explosions of “stars”—the Amsonia flowers—look best? Perhaps the best placement for one or more of these plants is in a casual garden display with drifts of flowers, some low-growing foliage plants, and a few taller plants such as Echinacea or Daylilies to introduce a different color. Amsonia itself will not show up in drifts: It stands proud and upright, providing a stationary base for the starry explosions of blooms that will appear at the top of the plant. But its flowers have a soft, airy look… classic and not-at-all fussy. Let it show up as though it arrived on the scene on its own, a lovely clump of delicate foliage and flowers.

So, Is Your Amnesia Gone?

Don’t worry if you have experienced a little amnesia around what Amsonia is and what makes it an important perennial. You won’t experience that again, once you plant it in your own garden: At that point, you won’t forget this plant’s name or what it offers. (It offers a lot.)