Shining Blue Star (Amsonia Illustris)
Shining Blue Star, sometimes called Ozark Blue Star, is a magnificent plant with three seasons of interest. The clusters of blue flowers appear around Memorial Day and last two to three weeks. The shiny foliage, with willow-shaped leaves, stays green through summer and turns a brilliant gold in the fall.
At three or more years, the plants can reach between three and four feet tall and be equally wide with a stout, vase shape.
Shining blue star will handle almost any soil from dry clay to moist muck. It grows best in full sun to a few hours of sun.
It is a low-maintenance plant needing to be cut back to the ground in late winter before new growth occurs in spring. If height becomes an issue, it can be pruned back a third or a half in mid-summer, and new growth will appear almost immediately. You will seldom have reason to water this tough, hardy perennial.
Uses: hummingbirds, butterflies, rain gardens
Bloom time: May - June
Height: 30 - 48"
Space: 36 - 48"
Moisture: Average to moist
Light: Sun to light shade