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 Tabernaemontana var. salicifolia – Amosnia salicifolia – Willow blue-star – Blue Dogbane – This clump forming perennial grows 24” tall and 18” wide. It produces narrow egg shape to elliptic or lance shape, matte, dark green leaves 1 ¼-3” long with Blue-green undersides. On many stems open rounded cyme like panicles of small pale star shape blue flowers ½- ¾” across are borne from late spring to midsummer. The name commemorates a famous sixth century German herbalist who latinised his name as Tabernaemontanus.
Zones 3-9
