Amsonia Species, Arkansas Bluebell, Hubricht's Blue Star, Thread-leafed Blue Star

Amsoniahubrichtii

Family
Apocynaceae (a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ee)
Genus
Amsonia (am-SO-nee-uh)
Species
hubrichtii (hew-BRIK-tee-eye)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Herbaceous
Height
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color
Light Blue
Dark Blue
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
From softwood cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Birmingham, Alabama

Gadsden, Alabama

Houston, Alabama

Opelika, Alabama

Cord, Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas

Pottsville, Arkansas

Clayton, California

Denver, Colorado

Brookfield, Connecticut

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Townsend, Delaware

Commerce, Georgia

Decatur, Georgia

Lula, Georgia

Chadwick, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

Mount Prospect, Illinois

Plainfield, Illinois

Washington, Illinois

Indianapolis, Indiana

Jeffersonville, Indiana(2 reports)

Iowa City, Iowa

Louisville, Kentucky

Coushatta, Louisiana

Pownal, Maine

Fallston, Maryland

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Dracut, Massachusetts

Haydenville, Massachusetts

Uxbridge, Massachusetts

Constantine, Michigan

Ludington, Michigan

Kasota, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Northfield, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Clinton, Mississippi

Marietta, Mississippi

Mathiston, Mississippi

Bates City, Missouri

Frenchtown, New Jersey

Jamesburg, New Jersey

Bohemia, New York

Millbrook, New York

Stony Point, New York

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

High Point, North Carolina

Cincinnati, Ohio

Enid, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Kintnersville, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Quakertown, Pennsylvania

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Florence, South Carolina

Clarksville, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee(2 reports)

Nashville, Tennessee

Ooltewah, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Linden, Texas

Arlington, Virginia

Stephens City, Virginia

Bellevue, Washington

Kalama, Washington

Charleston, West Virginia

Bayfield, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

14
positives
1
neutral
1
negative
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W
Petersburg, VA | September 2015 | positive

In my Zone 7A, Petersburg, Virginia garden, I have had an Amsonia hubrichtii for about four years. It has spread about three to four fee...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | May 2015 | positive

A beautiful plant with fine-textured foliage. Requires no care. Gets much bigger than you'd expect in time.

The flowers ar...Read More

C
Pottsville, AR (Zone 7a) | May 2015 | positive

Arkansas native, so had to have it in my garden. Beautiful ferny foliage, blue flowers in spring, gold foliage in fall. All visitors comm...Read More

R
R
Stroudsburg, PA (Zone 6a) | July 2013 | positive

This is at the top of my list of must-have perennials. Three seasons of spectacular beauty with the most minimal care. I don't believe i...Read More

B
B
Milwaukee, WI (Zone 5b) | June 2013 | neutral

Since the pic I posted from 2011, she's dwindled on me and has gotten much smaller which I attribute (possibly) to a tree nearby maturing...Read More

F
Ludington, MI (Zone 6a) | May 2012 | positive

This is one of my favorite garden plants. It looks great all season long and is maintenance free. I love the texture of the foliage. I en...Read More

A
Jeffersonville, IN (Zone 6a) | April 2012 | positive

It grows in a very nice vase-shape and never needs staking or watering. It's extremely low-maintenance; you never have to do a thing with...Read More

W
Haycock,Bucks County, PA (Zone 6b) | December 2011 | positive

One of my very favorites. Always interesting throughout it seasons. Give it a lot of room as it will have babies and fill in nicely. Tran...Read More

K
Cumberland, RI (Zone 6b) | August 2011 | positive

This review was written when I lived in Uxbridge, Massachusetts (zone 6).

My Amsonia hubrichtii has gotten huge; it is cur...Read More

E
(Clint) Medina, TN (Zone 7b) | July 2011 | negative

This plant is just a weed! It's floppy and ugly. The blooms don't last long and are a pale blue unattractive color. For a more appealing ...Read More

A
Gaithersburg, MD | January 2011 | positive

I love this plant. Spring flowers are a pretty blue, then trim it back to mound it up a bit. Fall color is yellow and stands out. Plan...Read More

A
Gadsden, AL | April 2009 | positive

I LOVE this plant. It's wonderful texture provides contrast with coarser leaved plants in the border and the golden color in fall is bea...Read More

C
Lula, GA (Zone 7b) | August 2008 | positive

I'm impressed with how nice the plant looks all the time. Very feathery texture and great fall color. The flowers are not huge or showy b...Read More

L
Jeffersonville, IN (Zone 6a) | September 2006 | positive

The plant is always attractive and shapely. Very low-maintenance--no staking, no deadheading, no pinching! No pests or diseases. What mor...Read More

C
Pontotoc, MS (Zone 7b) | September 2006 | positive

I look forward each spring to the beautiful soft blue blooms and dark green foliage of this graceful plant. Then, in the fall, it turns a...Read More

T
T
Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) | January 2003 | positive

The foliage on this species turns a beautiful golden color in the fall. Native to Arkansas and Oklahoma.

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