November Perennial of the Month-Blue star

It might seem odd to feature a spring-blooming perennial for November, but look at that golden fall color! Not many perennials give so much; flowers, structure, fall color, texture, and winter interest…blue star (Amsonia spp.) has it all.

There are quite a few native Amsonias, most with pale blue flowers. They become the stars of the perennial border or native plantings for a week or so in early spring, then politely fade into the background for the rest of summer…until fall. When other perennials are getting slimy or crispy after a few frosts, blue stars step back into the spotlight and give what I feel is their best performance. 

Amsonia tabernaemontana is a Missouri native with beautiful texture with narrow leaves that grows 2-3’ high and wide. Missouri Botanical Garden awarded A. tabernaemontana with the ‘Plant of Merit’ designation for plants with “outstanding quality and dependable performance for the lower Midwest.”

Other notables include A. hubrichtii, (also a Plant of Merit winner), A. ciliata, and A. illustris, which has a shorter habit, growing 1-2’ high and wide.

Some more unique cultivars of blue star include;

‘Storm Cloud’-A rebloomer with almost black stems and silver-veined dark green leaves.

‘Short Stack’-A dwarf cultivar growing to only 12”.

What’s great about this plant?

-Pale blue flower for those ‘blue-flower fanatics.

-It’s a native and tolerates our St. Louis extremes.

-EXCELLENT fall color and early winter interest, unlike most perennials.

What’s not so great?

-It can flop a bit or get leggy if grown in too much shade or rich soils. A good “Chelsea Chop” around Memorial Day Weekend after flowering can help or try one of the shorter cultivars like ‘Short Stack’, or A. illustris.

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

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