Plant Type: Perennials

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 inch 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 amsonia 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.