Amsonia tabernaemontana (Eastern Bluestar) - NC Ecotype
Amsonia tabernaemontana or Eastern Bluestar is a great addition to gardens, bringing bright blue flower clusters in late spring and shrubby foliage into fall. Tolerant of a wide range of conditions, it will grow best in full to part sun in rain gardens or moist soils. It is very deer resistant, with sap akin to milkweeds, but the flowers are popular with a range of butterflies and hummingbirds.
NC Ecotype! Amsonia tabernaemontana or Eastern Bluestar is a woodland edge wildflower in the Dogbane family, found in well-drained forest slopes in North Carolina. It is tolerant of a range of soil and light conditions, but will do best with at least 4 hours of sun and some protection from drying out. It is toxic to mammalian herbivores so it will resist deer browse. Eastern Bluestar grows slowly, so is best situated where it can establish until it forms a shrubby habit. This species has vivid fall color with bronze leaves, making it a great accent plant when paired with summer flowers.
Eastern Bluestar can provide year-round cover even as a perennial with its large mounding habit. It is also a host plant for some showy Lepidoptera species, such as the Snowberry Clearwing and Coral Hairstreak. Although it may bloom for only a few weeks in spring, it is popular with carpenter bees, butterflies, hawkmoths, and hummingbirds.
Pollinators: carpenter bees, butterflies, hawkmoths, hummingbirds
Host Plant for Butterflies/Moths: Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
Wildlife Value: Hummingbirds, shelter, winter cover
Deer Resistance: Very Good
Native Region: Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Seed Origin: Orange County, NC
Ecoregion: 45 - Piedmont
USDA Zones: 4-9
States found in our region: AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA
Other states found: AR, FL, IL, IN, KS, LA, MS, MO, OK, TX