Blue Star

The 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year®, Amsonia hubrichtii (Zones 5-8), is a masterclass in texture. While many perennials focus solely on the bloom, this species earns its keep through seasonal transformation. It emerges in spring with clusters of sky-blue stars, but its real value lies in the feathery, thread-like foliage that stays a vibrant green all summer before turning a high-impact, glowing gold in autumn. Growing 3' x 3', its mounding habit acts as a soft, structural filler that bridges the gap between coarser-leaved plants.

The spring flowers are a primary draw for Early-Season Nectar seekers like butterflies and long-tongued bees. More importantly, it is a Specialist Host for the Snowberry Clearwing Moth; its foliage provides the essential fuel for their larvae. Its sap is milky and unpalatable to most herbivores, making it a reliable, deer-resistant anchor for open landscapes where grazing is an issue.

Performance & Site Care

In the Southeast, Blue Star acts as a high-performance soil stabilizer. Full Sun is required to achieve the signature golden fall color. It is exceptionally long-lived and adaptable to various soil types, though it prefers well-drained sites. Once its deep, fibrous root system is established, it is Drought Resistant, making it ideal for the NC Piedmont. This is a "set it and forget it" plant—give it space to reach its full 3-foot diameter and let it provide the soft-focus geometry your garden needs. If the plant becomes too wide after blooming, it can be sheared back by six inches to maintain a tighter, more rounded shape.