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'Blue Ice' Blue Star

Amsonia (am-SO-nee-uh)

Family: Apocynaceae Unknown Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

'Bue Ice' Bluestar is an herbaceous perennial in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae)and the parentage of this hybrid is uncertain. The plant has a more compact habit, reaching 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. Grow in average moist but well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Mature plants are fairly drought-tolerant. The foliage and flowers look most with the main difference being that 'Blue Ice' is more compact and has darker blue flowers. Stems contain a toxic milky sap which helps deter rabbits and deer damage. In late spring to early summer the stems are topped with clusters of star-shaped blue flowers. The foliage remains attractive in summer and turns yellow in fall. Use as a border plant or in groups in the perennial, pollinator or cottage garden or along woodland edges. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but watch for fungal diseases. More information on Amsonia tabernaemontana .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 52 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Amsonia tabernaemontana
Fills a similar niche Anacis verticillata Buddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.' Clematis integrifolia

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Willow-shaped green leaves that turn yellow in fall
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Dark blue buds open to star-shaped blue to lavender-blue flowers in clusters in late spring to early summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Multi-branched stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attracts pollinators to the flowers
Attracts
Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; English Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups
Garden tags
#showy flowers #lavender flowers #blue flowers #HS302 #partial shade tolerant #mounding #clay soils tolerant #border front #spring flowers #mass planting #summer flowers #rabbit resistant #drought tolerant #deer resistant #pollinator plant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Orange-Shouldered Sherbet Moth
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Rabbits
Propagation
Division

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.