Blue Star – Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae)
Amsonia spp.
Region: 1 through 10 (Ellis Co is in Region 4)
Size: 1 – 4 feet
Blooms: April – November, Perennial
Amsonia is stiffly upright, with dark green, shiny foliage setting off the inflorescence. Blue, pale blue, or white star-shaped flowers, are loosely clustered at the top of each stem, often barely surpassing the alternate leaves. Normally blue star grows in a moist environment, often in marshes, ditches, bogs or floodplains. It is recommended for use in the garden where it thrives with a little extra water, but A.ciliata, a western species of this lovely plant, lives in drought-prone habitats, growing on limestone and chalky hills in Regions 4, 5, 7 and 8.
Article by: Melinda Kocian
Recent Blog Posts
Should You Keep a Garden Journal? - A garden journal can be a lined notebook or an inexpensive composition book for recording dates, plans and jotting notes about your garden. It can be a printed journal divided... Read More →
Bug O’ the Month-Cochineal - Have you ever noticed a prickly pear cactus with white fuzz on it, especially around the thorns? That’s the tell-tale sign of the presence of cochineal scale bugs. And, while... Read More →
Elevated Raised Beds Make Gardening Less of a Chore - Does your back ache after a long day of gardening? Do your knees get sore from kneeling while you plant, weed or harvest your vegetables? Do rabbits routinely nibble your... Read More →
February in the Garden - The cold weather and freezing temperatures at the end of the year damaged grasses, plants and trees across the state. The coldest December in Texas in 40 years left gardeners... Read More →
Children’s Workshop - Come join us March 25th, in the Childrens Workshop, as we get “Wild about Gardening”! We are excited to welcome Scout Woodward, from Texas Discovery Garden, who will be bringing... Read More →
Wildflower of the Month - Prairie Spiderwort – Dayflower Family (Commelinaceae) Tradescantia accidentalis (Britt.) Smyth Region: 1 through 10 (Ellis County is in Region 4) Size: 6 – 36 inches Blooms: February – July, Perennial... Read More →