threadleaf bluestar Interesting Notes

The Perennial Plant Association's 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year™

This graceful and long lived perennial has become the backbone of so many designed landscapes. As the Perennial Plant Association's 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year™ its place in our hearts and plantings is well deserved. From its wide tolerance of site conditions to its spring and fall shows this plant delights everyone who sees it. In spring, steel blue flower clusters sit atop delicate and feathery textured foliage. Come fall, that foliage turns a fiery gold, complimenting every other fall color and texture it finds itself with in the garden.

Amsonia hubrichtii has a very narrow native range, found only in Arkansas and Oklahoma. It was discovered in 1942 by Leslie Hubricht in the Ouachita Mountains in central Arkansas.

Amsonia hubrichtii's form almost lets it function as a shrub in the landscape, providing structure and texture throughout three seasons. It is equally valuable en masse in both formal and naturalistic plantings as well as stormwater applications because of its tolerance of both temporary inundation and periods of drought.

We have Amsonia hubrichtii all over our trials, from a mass in our rain garden to a sweep in our full sun trial garden to a corner of dappled shade beneath a hackberry in the shade garden. The range of conditions Amsonia performs well in is proof positive of the adaptability and the showmanship of this wonderful plant. It prefers full sun in a range of soils and is slow to grow at first but establishes its presence by the second year. For brightest fall foliage, place plant in a full sun location. It is a good butterfly nectar plant. 

Amsonia hubrichtii Growing and Maintenance Tips

Prefers full sun in moist, average or dry soil. Slow to grow at first, but takes off in the second year. Fall color is brightest in full sun. Use in borders, rock gardens, native gardens, cottage gardens or open woodland areas. Best when massed.

Good Substitutions

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia

Amsonia 'Blue Ice'