Blue Star is a tough and dependable native perennial with icy-blue, star-shaped flowers in the spring. Plants produce rich green leaves during the growing season before they turn an attractive straw color in the fall.
- Very adaptable
- Easy to grow
- Deer resistant
Details
- 18 to 30 in. tall and wide
- Clump-forming perennial that produces a tough woody rootstock
- Plants go dormant in the fall and emerge again in spring
- Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
Flowering period
Flowering begins in mid to late April in central North Carolina and lasts around three weeks.
How to grow
Blue Star can tolerate a wide range of conditions, including drought and periodic flooding. It will grow in quite a lot of shade but will produce a denser habit and more flowers if grown in full sun to part shade.
Care and maintenance
To prevent plants from self-sowing and to keep plants compact, cut back stems by half after flowering. Old stems can be down to the ground any time during the winter.
Where to plant
Blue Star is a plant no garden should be without. Along with its versatility, it is deer resistant and has a compact habit. Planting sites include flower beds in sun, the edges of woodland gardens, and rain gardens.
When to plant
Blue Star is quick to establish and can be planted any time the ground is not frozen.
Spacing
If planting in a group, space plants two to three feet apart.
When will my plant flower?
Flowering-size plants may produce some flowers in the spring if planted before April. Plants purchased after mid-April should flower the following spring.
Native habitat and range
Amsonia tabernaemontana can be found growing in floodplain forests and on the slopes of rich forests throughout southern and central United States.
Source and origin
Plants are propagated by cuttings. Our stock plants were grown from seeds collected on a streambank in Pender County, NC.
| States | Orders up to $50 | Orders $51 to $100 | Orders over $100 |
| AL, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV | $16 | $18 | $20 |
| AR, CT, FL, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WI | $18 | $20 | $22 |
| IA, KS, ME, MN, OK, and TX | $20 | $22 | $24 |
| CO, NE, ND, and SD | $22 | $24 | $26 |
Sorry, we can't ship plants outside of the continental United States or to AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA due to agriculture restrictions.
When will my order be shipped?All plants are shipped within two weeks of placing an order.
Is it okay to plant in the winter?Yes, as long as the soil is not frozen. Planting native perennials in winter and early spring gives your plants a head start before the summer heat arrives.
What if it’s too cold to plant where I live, but I want to buy a plant before it sells out?Dormant plants can safely be kept in a basement, garage, or cool room until you are ready to plant in late winter or early spring.
How will my plants get delivered?Most orders are shipped on Monday or Tuesday via UPS Ground, which depending on the destination takes between 1 to 4 days.
Are your plants shipped in their containers?Yes, all our plants are shipped in their growing containers. The majority are grown in containers that are 4.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep and 32 fl. oz. / 946 ml in volume.
Do you guarantee your plants?We guarantee our plants to be healthy, ready for planting and correctly named. We are not able to guarantee whether a plant will grow in your garden as there are too many circumstances that are beyond our control.
On rare occasions, a plant shipped dormant may fail to emerge from its dormancy. If this happens, please let us know. If you are concerned about a plant, please contact us within 14 days to let us know. If we can’t help you make it grow, we’ll send you a new plant or issue a refund.
You can return your plants if you no longer want them once they arrive. To receive a refund (minus 20% restocking fee) the plants must be returned in good condition. Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility.
Can I cancel my order?Yes, you can cancel your order. Please visit our terms and service page for details.
What about sales tax?We propagate our own plants and are not required to collect North Carolina sales tax.
Where can I find information about your plants?Here are some FAQ on how we grow plants.
