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
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