amsonia
Amsonia hubrichtii
Perennial Plant of the Year 2011; MBG Plant of Merit 2005
USDA zones5 to 8
SunHandles full sun to partial shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size2 to 3 feet tall2 to 3 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Powdery blue
- Foliage color
- Gold/yellow, green
- Fall color
- Yes
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Amsonia (Amsonia hubrichtii) is a perennial for borders, rain gardens, specimen planting, and pollinator gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full sun to part shade and dry to moist soil of most types. Deer and rabbits usually look elsewhere for a meal. Best fall color occurs in full sun, but flowers last longer with some afternoon shade. Too much shade causes stems to flop over, so cut it back to 6 inches after flowering to shape a mound.
Pairs well with All Gold Japanese forest grass, Hummingbird sweet pepperbush, Britt Marie Crawford leopard plant, and Little bluestem.
Native range
North America.