How do we use your location?
Knowing your location helps us recommend plants that will thrive in your climate, based on your Growing Zone.
Knowing your location helps us recommend plants that will thrive in your climate, based on your Growing Zone.
Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) also known as Common Bluestar or Willow Bluestar, is a native species with a wide native range that includes most of the Eastern and Midwestern United States and along the Gulf Coast. Typically found in open woods and thickets, it thrives in average, well-drained soil and prefers moist, loamy soil. It can tolerate clay soil and even spells of drought. It’s a great choice for rain gardens. It performs best in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade, though it may require staking if planted in shade. For a neater appearance and to prevent flopping, especially in shadier sites, plants can be cut back 1/2 to 1/3 after flowering, to promote denser growth and a more rounded mound of foliage. However, trimming will mean that the plants do not produce their seedpods.
Eastern Bluestar is especially beautiful when planted in naturalized gardens and meadowscapes, massed in garden borders, and open woodland areas. The flowers attract long-tongued insects, including Large Carpenter Bees and hummingbird moths, and Eastern Bluestar is one of several host plants for the Snowberry Clearwing moth. The foliage of Bluestar contains a toxic white sap, making it reliably deer-, rabbit- and herbivore- resistant.
Amsonia tabernaemontana is a winner of the Plants of Merit Award from Missouri Botanical Garden, selected for its outstanding quality and dependable performance for the lower Midwest.
Eastern Bluestar was featured as a Top Performer in a Mt Cuba Center Trial Garden Research Report. These reports evaluate native plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value, highlighting the ecosystem services they provide.
As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat. The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.
Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.