This article will present several sun - enjoy plants in various shades of blue that catch the imagination : sky blue , midnight blue , periwinkle blue , blue mist , blue ice , violent storm cloud , and indigo . To savor the beauty of drear throughout the gardening season , consider a spring - bloomer , a recent spring / former summertime bungle , and then a late summer / fall bloomer . The first two plants are native to North America ; the last is a foreign-born from Asia .
AMSONIA
Amsonia , unremarkably called dreary star , is a genus of about 20 species named in honor of 18thcentury Virginia doctor , Dr. Charles Amson . It isnativeprimarily to North Americawith one species in East Asia and another in the easterly Mediterranean . This clause will focus on those coinage aboriginal to the U.S. This clump - forming perennial has narrow-minded , alternative leafage and clusters of sorry , 5 - petaled flowers . The unaccented blue heyday are followed by elongated , pod - like fruits containing firmly , sinister seeds which can be used for generation . Amsonia proffer three - season interest : showy , long - lasting blooms in spring ( mostly in May);threadlike green foliage in summer ; and yellow foliage in fall .
Of the familyApocynaceae(dogbane ) , phallus typically have milky or gluey sap that can be loaded with highly toxic alkaloids . The latex sap is mildly bother and is not considered to be harmful to humans , although the great unwashed with rubber-base paint allergies are advised to outwear gloves . The sap have the plant unappealing to forage deer , rabbits , and many garden plague .
Other member of the Apocynaceae family include periwinkle ( Vinca ) , oleander ( Nerium oleander ) , and the reclassify milkweed mob ( Asclepiadoideae ) , now considered a subfamily of the dogbane family .
Growing Conditions
Although it prefers moist , loamy grime , this works can be uprise in most well - drained territory , tolerating clay grime very well . Once established , it is drought resistant . Amsonia thrives in full sunshine to part shadowiness . When grow in full sun , plants often require no pruning or staking . When uprise in partial refinement and/or in fat soils , plant be given to become more undefended and floppy and often call for staking or pruning . Full sun promotes a brilliant golden foliage people of colour in the fall . Shade protective cover from the high noon sun in hot climates elevate longer - lasting bloom . For a neater appearance , in particular for shade - develop plant , regard cut back stanch by 1/2 to 1/3 after flower to advance bushy growth and a more rounded leaf mound . The dwarf cultivars do not need staking or cut back . Moderately drought - tolerant once established , this is a modest maintenance , easy - to - grow , long - subsist plant not capable to disease or pest problem .
Pollinators
Many dirt ball enjoy the nectar of amsonia flowers , especially long - tongue insects such as carpenter bees , hummingbird moth , and butterfly . Ruby - throated hummingbirds are also pull to the nectar .
use
The range of flora sizes make genus Amsonia a various alternative in the garden . Tidy leaf and a striking vase - shaped growth riding habit permit bluestar to perform well as either an accent plant or in mass planting . It is an fantabulous addition to a pollinator garden , native garden , deer - resistant garden , butterfly nectar garden , bungalow garden , water - heady landscape , low sustainment planting , hayfield , or prairie garden . Smaller change work well in containers .
extension
The plant can be propagated fromstem cuttingstaken after flowering . Propagation by seedis potential , but lengthy . It first requires astratification cognitive operation . seeded player then take about 10 weeks to sprout and seedling may not be ready to transplant for about 20 hebdomad . Although plants seldom require to be divided for overcrowding or rejuvenation , propagation by divisionis fairly easy . Divide plants in previous summer or early fall to guarantee that the dual-lane plants develop roots before the earth freezes . cut through with a winter mulch to prevent newly part plants from heave during the freeze - and - warming cycles .
Amsonia Species
Amsonia tabernaemontana
ordinarily called easterly blue star , bluestar , blue dogbane , or willow amsonia , this native is establish in central and eastern U.S. from New York to Florida . It has light blue flower . Dense foliation is lime green when it first look and then turn dark fleeceable . The spear - work foliage is coarser and larger than that ofA. hubrichtii .
Cultivars
A.tabernaemontana‘Short Stack ’ is a dwarf cultivar that grows to only 10 - 12 ” tall and 18 ” wide . It has sky - blasphemous bloom . This cultivar may be subject to rust .
A.tabernaemontana‘Storm Cloud ’ features near - black stems with silver - veined dismal light-green leaves in spring which lighten to olive greenish by summertime . Light periwinkle - gloomy flowers blossom from late natural spring to early summer , often with some rebloom thereafter . It may be subject to rust fungus .
Amsonia‘Blue frosting ’ is very similar in show toA. tabernaemontana , except that it is much more compact , growing to 1.5 ’ tall and wide . Its flowers are colored lavender - risque . In a Chicago Botanical Garden flora valuation , ‘ Blue Ice ’ was awarded a 4 - maven valuation . Although ‘ Blue Ice ’ was reportedly discovered grow withA. tabernaemontanaseedlings in a nursery at White Flower Farm , the blood line has patently not yet been definitively influence .
Amsonia‘Seaford Skies ’ is a bluestar hybrid ( A. hubrectiixA. genus Tabernaemontana ) that was find growing in a secret garden in Seaford , Virginia . Averaging 2 - 4 ’ tall and 2 - 3 ’ widely , it can farm as improbable as 5 feet . It features sky risque flowers atop 36 ” tumid shank .
A. tabernaemontanavar . salicifolia
usually called bluestar , this perennial is native to the southeastern U.S. in zone 3 - 9 , so it is somewhat winter hardier than other amsonias . It prefer moist , loamy soil but can also endure Lucius DuBignon Clay . It has some drought resistance . Its flowers are light blue with whitened throat .
A. illustris
Commonly predict Ozark bluestar or fall blue star , this Missouri native has light blue flowers . Although very similar in appearance toA. tabernaemontana , the leaves ofA. illustrisare shinier , thicker , and more leathery and the seed pods are pendant . The plant maturate 2 - 3 ’ tall and 1 - 1.5 ’ wide .
A. hubrichtii
ordinarily call bluestar , Arkansas amsonia or Hubricht ’s amsonia , this uncommon perennial is aboriginal to central Arkansas . The feathery foliage ofA. hubrichtiiis importantly different from the broad leafage ofA. genus Tabernaemontana . It is also narrower and more screw thread - ilk than the acerate leaf - alike leaf ofA. ciliataand lacks that coinage ’ conspicuous pilosity . Powdery - blue flowers appear in April to May .
Specific epithet is in honor of Leslie Hubricht , an American life scientist and malacologist ( mollusc ) who first discovered this amsonia species produce in the wild in the other forties . Mr. Hubricht influence as an assistant at the Missouri Botanical Gardens from 1936 to 1943 .
A. ciliata
Commonly call in blue virtuoso , fringed blue star , or downy amsonia , this perennial is aboriginal to the southeastern U.S. The specific epithet , ciliate , means hairy - margined in reference to the fringe of tomentum found on new leaves and plant stem . It has narrow almost phonograph needle - corresponding green leaves . Its flowers are pale blue . Consider cut staunch to 8 - 10 ” after flowering .
BAPTISIA AUSTRALIS
Another beautiful , shrubby , spring - blooming perennial with purple - dingy bloom is usually calledblue mistaken indigotin . It is native to the eastern and mid - western areas of the United States . Depending on the cultivar , blue false anil typically flower for about three to six weeks in former springiness to other summertime . Attractive blue - unripened , trifoliolate foliation tot pleasing colour and texture to the landscape even after the flush have long disappeared . It grows 3 - 4 ’ tall and extensive so provide ample room in your garden . This sun - love industrial plant is dispirited maintenance , has few pests and diseases , and is not bothered by deer and rabbits ! It also provides ambrosia to a diversity of butterfly and pollinator . For detailed info on adding this sensational plant to your garden , see the May 2015 issue ofThe Garden Shed .
There is also a smaller version , Baptisia australisvarminor , that grows 1.5 - 2 ’ improbable and wide . Var.minorappears to dissent from the species principally by being a smaller plant life with shorter radical and short parting but larger flowers . The average anthesis is about 18 ” long . The flower period is in late May - June and lasts for about 3 weeks .
Forplant trials and comparative resultson various cultivar ofBaptisia australis , have-to doe with to theMt . Cuba Center . Baptisia australisis presently undergoing plant evaluation tryout at the Chicago Botanic Garden .
CARYOPTERIS
Native to easterly and southern Asia , of the phratry Lamiacaea ( mint ) , most plant life in the genusCaryopterisare woody shrubs . Though severalCaryopterisspecies are grown in botanical garden as ornamental plant , the species have largely been superseded in home gardens by the hybridCaryopteris×clandonensis(C. incana×C. mongholica ) . Thehybrid , commonly calledbluebeard , blue spiraea or blue mist , grow from a luck seedling in an English garden in 1933 . It was first introduced to the United States in the sixties and before long became a garden favorite . Although not number as trespassing on theUSDA Plants Database , Introduced , Invasive , and Noxious Plants , it should be see for invasive property because of its more late introduction into U.S. landscape .
Bluebeard is a low - mounded , deciduous shrub with an average superlative and spread head of 2 - 3 ’ . It is respect for its aromatic foliation and fragrant peak which are said to resemble cloud of blue sess or mist from recent summer to early twilight . The lance - mold leaves are opposite , gray-headed - green , and have serrate margins . Some cultivars offer motley leafage . Roots are insensate - brave to geographical zone 5 ; expect winter die - back of woody stems in climates colder than USDA Zone 7 .
Caryopteris should be engraft in moist , well - drained grease and exposed to full sun for maximize blooms . It can happily exist in wakeful shade where it is more drought tolerant although it will not bloom quite as prolifically . Over - lachrymation will cause root rot . Too much fertilizer may leave in vigorous increase but fewer flush . Because the flowers appear on new growth it is best to cut the shrub back to at least one - third or one - one-half its meridian in early spring . This pruning will encourage a more robust blooming time of year each year and serve to keep the flora ’s growth habit well shape . Bumblebees , butterfly stroke and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers . Its redolent leaves make itunappealing to both deer and rabbit !
Because of its summary size of it and mound habitat , caryopteris adds structure to the garden as a specimen plant . Its lance - shaped leafage counterpoint nicely with broadleaf plants and its profusion of blooms offer a striking focal breaker point . The accompany photo showsC.xclandonensis‘Longwood Blue ’ in a cottage garden with the yearly , Zinnia elegans‘Tudor ’ ™ , and perennials : Rosa‘Radyod ’ BLUSHIING KNOCKOUT;Hylotelephium‘Herbstfreude ’ AUTUMN JOY ( stonecrop ) ; andDianthus‘Feuerhexe ’ FIREWITCH .
CaryopterisxclandonensisCultivars
‘ Dark Knight ’ has thick bluish - over-embellished efflorescence ; ovate to spear - work , sluggish green leaves are silvery below .
‘ Longwood Blue ’ is a taller cultivar which may reach a height of 4′. It boast a profuse , shrub - covering bloom of purple - blue bloom .
‘ Arthur Simmonds ’ was judge to be the unfearing cultivar ofCaryopterisin theOrnamental Plant Evaluation visitation at the Chicago Botanic Garden . It has violet - blueish flower .
‘ Blue Mist ’ has pulverization - blue flower .
‘ summertime Sorbet ’ is a motley cultivar that is noted for its green leaves with gold edging and its blue blossom .
C.×clandonensis‘Durio ’ Pink Chablis ™ is prized as a landscape addition for itspink flowersunique to Bluebeard and for its attractiveness to insect pollinators . hear in 1998 as a chance seedling in a Louisiana garden , it has been the topic of study by the Dept . of Defense Deployed War - Fighter Protection ( DWFP ) enquiry program . The indispensable oils of Pink Chablis ™ have been look into for chemical substance composition and bioactivity as a repellant and larvicide against the yellow fever mosquito ( Sedes aegypti ) . It show mild repellency compared to DEET and weakly activitiy as a mosquito larvicide . The essential oils of its parent metal money have also been studied for use as insect repellents .
SUMMARY
Each of these three sun - loving plants offers : a solid shrubby comportment in the garden ; attractive leafage with interesting grain ; resistivity to deer and rabbits ; and low susceptibleness to pests and diseases . They are all good candidates for pollinator garden since they pull butterfly stroke , bees , and hummingbirds . The accessibility of cultivars offer a broad compass of “ blueness ” that complements many other flower people of colour include pinks , yellows , whites , and reds . In addition , using a combination of all three plants will push bloom for a good portion of early spring through capitulation !
SOURCES
Specific Plant Information by Name , Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder , http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org / plantfinder / plantfindersearch.aspx
Specific Plant Information by Name , Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Plant Database , https://www.wildflower.org / plants/
Piedmont Natives – Plant Database , https://www.albemarle.org / nativeplants/
Bluestar , Amsonia Tabernaemontana , Illinois Wildlife Federation , https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info / forest / industrial plant / bluestar.htm
Bluestar , Ozarkedge , https://ozarkedgewildflowers.com / spring - wildflowers / risque - star topology - or - genus Amsonia - amsonia - tabernaemontana/
Amsonia ‘ Blue Ice ’ , Plant Evaluation , Chicago Botanic Garden , http://perennialsinfocus.com / snapshots - a - d/
Willowleaf bluestar , Amsonia tabernaemontana , https://wimastergardener.org / clause / willowleaf - bluestar - amsonia - tabernaemontana/
“ Eastern Blue Star , ” The Morton Arboretum , https://www.mortonarb.org / Tree - plants / Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - industrial plant - description / easterly - profane - star
Plant Evaluation , Chicago Botanic Garden , https://www.chicagobotanic.org / collections / ornamental_plant_research / plant_evaluation
“ Plant Evaluation Notes : An Evaluation Study of Hardy Amsonia,”https://www.chicagobotanic.org / downloads / planteval_notes / no18_amsonia.pdf
“ Baptisia australis : Both Beautiful and Indestructible ! ” The Garden Shed , https://piedmontmastergardeners.org / article / baptisia - both - beautiful - and - indestructible/
Baptisia , Mt. Cuba Center , https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/baptisia/
Baptisia australisvar.minor , Mt. Cuba Center , https://mtcubacenter.org / trials / baptisia / baptisia - australis - var - minor/
USDA Plants Database , Introduced , Invasive , and Noxious Plants , https://plants.usda.gov / core / profile?symbol = CACL7
“ April : Blue Mist SpireaCaryopterisxcland0nensisand its Cultivars , Santa Fe Botanical Garden , https://santafebotanicalgarden.org / april-2013/
For insect repellant inquiry , google : C.xclandonensis‘Durio ’ Pink Chablis ™ Research Gate
