Maryland Native Plants for Spring: Amsonia tabernaemontana – Eastern Bluestar
Maryland Native Spring Beauties
Amsonia tabernaemontana – Eastern Bluestar
Amsonia tabernaemontana, also known as eastern bluestar is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, loamy soils. Tolerates some drought. When grown in full sun, plants often require no pruning or staking. When grown in some shade and/or in rich soils, however, plants tend to become more open and floppy and often require staking or pruning. For a neater appearance, particularly for shade-grown plants, consider cutting back stems by 1/2 to 1/3 after flowering to promote bushy growth and, if desired, a more rounded foliage mound.
The foliage may develop a golden color in the fall. After the leaves fall off, the fibrous stems bleach to a silver color. Plants bloom for 3-4 weeks in mid-spring to early summer, with many small, pale blue, star-shaped blossoms in loose terminal clusters. Flowers may be visited by ruby-throated hummingbird, carpenter bees and other bees, hummingbird moths, and various butterflies.
Common Name: blue star
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Apocynaceae
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Description: Blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Leaf: Good Fall
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
(Information from Missouri Botanical Garden)
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Eastern bluestar flowers and foliage