Amsonia salicifolia Pursh
Amsonia tabernaemontana Walter var. salicifolia (Pursh) Woodson Bluestar, blue dogbane, blue star flower
Bluestar is native to the central United States. It prefers rocky woodlands and ravines, stream borders, limestone glades, and moist sandy meadows. This variety has narrower, willow-like leaves. Plants: Perennial, 1-3′ (30-91 cm), forming large clumps with many branches. Stems are light green, smoothly cylindrical, and hairless. Leaves: This variety has narrower, willow-like lanceolate leaves. They are bright green above, pale below, 2-4″ (5-10 cm) long. Leaves have a petiole (stem) up to 1″ (2.5 cm) long. Flowers: In compact, rounded panicles. Each flower is tubular, opening to a star of five narrow pointed light blue petals ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm) around. Flower centers are pale yellow. They appear in May. Fruits: Cylindrical seed pods are 3-4½″ (8-12 cm) long, containing hard, black seeds. Pods are curved and sharp-tipped. Online References:
Illinois Wildflowers (Amsonia tabernaemontana) Fyi.extension.wisc.edu (Amsonia tabernaemontana) (Great photos and info) Plants.ces.ncsu.edu (Amsonia tabernaemontana) The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Amsonia tabernaemontana) References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 14 Amsonia salicifolia Pursh
Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020. |
Range: Zones 3-9:
|