PlantFiles: Eastern Bluestar, Woodland Blue Star, Willow Amsonia, Blue Dogbane Amsonia tabernaemontana
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Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color: Light Blue
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer
Foliage: Herbaceous
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting: Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
On May 26, 2009, flora_p from Champaign, IL (Zone 5b) wrote:
I find this plant useful in a fair bit of shade as well as in sun (I do trim it back a bit mid-summer if it looks floppy), and it hasn't been all that fussy about soil moisture--in short, it's adaptable and reliable. The blooms are pretty, and they last very well as cut flowers; the foliage is also attractive after the blooming stops. I'm putting it in more places in my garden, and it helpfully reseeds at a very polite speed, providing me with expansion plants without taking over.
On May 24, 2009, saya from Heerlen Netherlands (Zone 8b) wrote:
I've received seeds of it a few years ago.. I'm sorry I don't know which DG member has sent me seeds of these..I want to thank her or him for this pretty plant. It took about three years to flower from seed. Now it is flowering for its third season and even more abundant than last year. It has a very neat round habit and its scented flowers are so delicate pale blue..very pretty. It dies back in wintertime and emerges in spring with fresh vivid green foliage..soon it shows its (by that time) dark blue flower buds. Last winter we had temps that dropped to -20C for weeks that did not harm it at all.
Remove seedpods if you don't want any unvoluntary seedlings. When still small seedlings are easy to pull up. They root relatively deep.
Take care when handling plants. The milky white sap can irritate the skin.
On May 31, 2008, straea from Somerville, MA (Zone 6b) wrote:
I'm always looking for more fairly tall native plants to add to the back of my dry, windy, sunny border. Last year the local nursery's manager said that she thought it would adapt to this site despite the common recommendation being that this plant grows best in humusy, moist soil. When I planted it, it nearly immediately lost all its leaves and appeared thereafter to have died, so I didn't see any point in moving it to a new location to see if it could recover. This spring I was shocked to see it sprout. It started out slowly but then rapidly caught up to the size of other area amsonias. It's now blooming its gorgeous flowers. It's adapted perfectly to the site and this year it is robust and healthy. I can hardly think of a more resilient plant for the garden.
On May 29, 2008, francesseth from Evanston, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:
This is one of my favorite plants. I have it in a part-sun situation next to the garage. It has a graceful habit and long-lasting flowers. I've had it about three years. Even after blooming, the leaves are attractive and make a good background for early summer plants.
Pest and Disease Prevention: No serious
pests or diseases. Mulch with organic matter
to keep the soil evenly moist.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
, Auburn, Alabama Gadsden, Alabama Morrilton, Arkansas Aurora, Colorado Sherman, Connecticut Highland Acres, Delaware Cheval, Florida Pensacola, Florida Dahlonega, Georgia Douglas, Georgia Marietta, Georgia Champaign, Illinois Evanston, Illinois Washington, Illinois Coushatta, Louisiana Bridgewater, Massachusetts East Pepperell, Massachusetts Somerville, Massachusetts Bellaire, Michigan Blaine, Minnesota Maben, Mississippi Bridgeton, Missouri Brookline, New Hampshire Nelson, New Hampshire Portsmouth, New Hampshire Collingswood, New Jersey Frenchtown, New Jersey Hamilton, New Jersey White House Station, New Jersey Cicero, New York Jefferson, New York Glen Raven, North Carolina Columbia Station, Ohio Glouster, Ohio Portland, Oregon Salem, Oregon Smyrna, Tennessee Austin, Texas Dalworthington Gardens, Texas Houston, Texas Parkersburg, West Virginia Star City, West Virginia Maple Bluff, Wisconsin Porterfield, Wisconsin Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin
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