This low-maintenance native perennial has beautiful blue flowers that resemble small stars.
Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) will be the star of your beds and borders for three seasons.
Great places areperennial border gardens, around patios and decks, and native habitat gardens.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with the original soil.
Gently tamp it down and water it immediately.
Space the plants 2 to 3 feet apart.
Credit: Rob Cardillo
In regions with very warm summers, plant bluestar in part shade.
Soil and Water
Threadleaf bluestar prefers fertile,well-drained soilswith a pH between 5.6 and 6.2.
It’s more drought-tolerant than otherAmsoniaspecies and doesn’t require constant moisture.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Temperature and Humidity
This is a cold-hardy perennial that is adapted to winters down to zone 5.
It is not suited for extremely hot summers above zone 9 but does fine in high humidity.
Also, potted plants need more water and fertilizer during the growing season than in-ground plants.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
How to Propagate Threadleaf Bluestar
Threadleaf bluestar can bepropagated by divisionor from seeds.
Replant the sections at the same depth in new locations.
Just leave the seedheads on the plant, and it will reseed itself.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Carefully dig out the seedlings when they are about 4 inches tall and replant them in a new location.
Eastern bluestar is alsodeer resistantand is hardy in Zones 3-9.
Fringed Bluestar
Fringed bluestar (Amsonia ciliata)has pale blue starry flowers that appear in midspring.
Credit: Bob Stefko
The stems and new leaves have tiny hairs, hence the “fringed” part of its name.
This bluestar tops out at 3 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 5-9.
Shining Bluestar
Marty Baldwin
Shining or Ozark bluestar (Amsonia illustris)has narrow, shiny leaves.
Credit: Stephen Cridland
Its ice-blue flower clusters appear in spring.
It’s hardy in Zones 5-9.
Peony
Peonies(Paeoniaspp.)
bloom in spring in shades of pink, red, yellow, and white.
The big, bold flowers and coarse foliage contrast nicely with threadleaf bluestar.
These plants are also deer-resistant.
Some varieties of this throw in of iris also come in white or yellow.
The plants are deer-resistant and the flowers are great for cutting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The plant may reseed itself, which most gardeners consider a bonus.
Unwanted seedlings can be easily removed.
As a native plant, threadleaf bluestar is not considered invasive.
Cut back threadleaf bluestar in late fall or early winter to about 8 inches from the ground.
