Description
Amsonia – Blue Star – Rhazya
There are about 20 species of clump forming perennials from lightwood or grassland in moist stony or heavily soils in Southeastern Europe, Turkey, Japan, and Northeast and Central U.S.A, in this genus. They have bright to deep green alternate lance shaped or egg shape to elliptic smooth edged leaves. Several species turn yellow in autumn. It bears long lasting panicles of narrowly funnel-shaped blue flowers with 5 spreading petals are borne from spring to summer. There are moderately to very frost hardy. Great plant for a mixed or herbaceous border at the edge of woodland, wildflower garden. Contact with milky sap may irritate skin. Divide in spring.
Easily grown in any moist soil that does not dry out in summer but is well drained in full sun to light shade and will tolerant some drought.
Prone to rust.
Amosnia orientalis – Rhazya orientalis – This clump perennial is almost extinct in its native Northeastern Greece, and Northwestern Turkey. It grows 20-36” tall and 36” wide with many erect strong stems that become woody at the base with egg shape to lance shaped willow like grayish green 1 ¼-3” long leaves. In early and midsummer it bears loose compact panicles of violet-blue flowers ½- ¾” across.
Zones 5-9
