Amsonia tabernaemontana - bluestar, willowleaf

Height: 2 to 3’
Spread: 2 to 3’
Light Needs: full sun to part shade
Water: average, drought tolerant once established
Flower color: blue
Bloom time: April, May

This wildflower develops into clumps of upright, leafy stems. Dense clusters of blue, star-like flowers are produced at the tops of the stems. The foliage turns an attractive yellow in fall. This plant is suitable for a formal garden or a more natural setting. The flowers attract  hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and other insect pollinators. It serves as a host for the caterpillars of the coral hairstreak butterfly, the snowberry clearwing moth and other moths. Its milky sap helps deter deer.

These plants have comparatively narrower leaves and have been known as var. salicifolia. However, the Flora of the Southeast U.S. does not recognize this as a named variety.