The illustrated growing guide
Amsonia (Bluestar)
Amsonia hubrichtii
Family Apocynaceae
Est. zones 4-9
A native that pulls double duty: powder-blue star flowers in spring over feathery threadleaf foliage, then one of the best FALL shows of any perennial — the whole plant turns a glowing gold that lasts for weeks. Deer-resistant, drought-proof, and long-lived once the deep roots establish. Shear lightly after bloom so it doesn't flop.
Full Sun to Light Shade
Low water
Slow to establish growth
Deer-resistant
Native to North America
Attracts beesI
Overview
Will amsonia (bluestar) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what amsonia (bluestar) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-9Amsonia (Bluestar) at a glance
Common amsonia (bluestar) problems
- Almost none — deer-resistant
- Almost none
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow amsonia (bluestar): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate amsonia (bluestar)
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The year
What amsonia (bluestar) asks for, month by month.
The amsonia (bluestar) year, month by month
BloomWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
The amsonia (bluestar) year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar quiet month
- Apr quiet month
- May bloom
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Amsonia (Bluestar) in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
What amsonia (bluestar) is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesMilky sap mildly toxic if eaten
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of amsonia (bluestar), ruled as a catalogue.
Best amsonia (bluestar) varieties & cultivars
'Hubrichtii' (threadleaf, best fall color — Perennial Plant of the Year); A. tabernaemontana (broadleaf, blue)
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to amsonia (bluestar)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Amsonia (Bluestar) questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat amsonia (bluestar)?
Rarely — amsonia (bluestar) is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is amsonia (bluestar) safe for kids and pets?
With care. Milky sap mildly toxic if eaten Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate amsonia (bluestar)?
Division or seed.
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Elsewhere
Where amsonia (bluestar) sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily