Ooh, Arkansas Bluestar. Good pick, gardener.

All plants Card

Arkansas Bluestar

Amsonia hubrichtii

Zones 5–13

Growing

This ornamental perennial is prized for its feathery, thread-like foliage that creates a soft, bushy texture in the garden. When you plant it, ensure the site is well-drained, as the plant does not tolerate waterlogged soil. While it thrives in full sun or partial sun, the foliage provides a lovely seasonal transition, appearing bright green in the spring and shifting to a brilliant gold as autumn arrives.

If you are starting this plant from seed or transplanting nursery stock, you can expect a compact, clumping habit that stays in place without spreading aggressively. This makes it an excellent choice for containers or for adding structure to garden borders without encroaching on neighboring plants. To maintain a tidy appearance, you can divide the clumps periodically to refresh the plant.

As a pollinator-friendly species, it is a wonderful addition to a habitat-focused landscape. Always keep in mind that this plant is toxic to people, pets, and livestock, so handle it with care in areas where animals or children may interact with the foliage.

Stats
Sunfull sun
Watermedium
Grow time—
Height1–3ft
Spacing12–24in
Light
Full sun✓
Part shade✓
Shade✗
Traits
Life cycleperennial
Categorygarden perennial
Growth habitbush
Seasoncool
Frost tolerancehardy
Height1–3ft
Spacing12–24in
Days to bloomover 150
Native us✓
Growing
Watermedium
Drainagewell drained
Soil ph min—
Soil ph max—
Propagation
Seed✓
Cutting✗
Division✓
Graft✗
Tuber bulb crown✗
Transplant✓
Container ok✓
Spreadclump
Deer resistant✓
Drought tolerant✓
Pollinator friendly✓
Toxic to
People✓
Pets✓
Livestock✓
Bloom
Length2–6wk
Colors
White✓
Yellow✗
Orange✗
Red✗
Pink✗
Purple✗
Blue✓
Green✗
Fragrant✗
Reblooms✗
Deadhead✗
Cut flower✗
Dried flower✗
Invasive
Statusnone
Regions
Northeast✗
Southeast✗
Midwest✗
Plains✗
Southwest✗
Mountain west✗
Pacific northwest✗
California✗
Hawaii✗
State noxious✗
Escapes cultivation✗
Pollinators
Visitors
Honey bees✓
Native bees✓
Bumblebees✓
Butterflies✓
Moths✓
Hummingbirds✗
Beneficial insects✓
Nectarmedium
Pollenmedium
Larval host✓
Specialist bees✓
Seed for birds✓
Calendar, zone 7
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sownoyesyesyesyesnonononononono
Harvest————————————