Blue Star is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) native to the southeast and west to Texas. It is generally found in sandy soils, where it does best. The Genus name honors Dr. John Amson, an English physician and amateur botanist who lived and worked in Williamsburg, Virginia during the colonial period. Specific epithet means hairy-margined in reference to the fringe of hairs found on new leaves and plant stems It typically grows to 1-2’ tall but can be pruned back to 8"-10" above the ground after it flowers to help give it a more compact rounded shape. Blue Star prefers sandy very well-drained soils in full sun but tolerates light shade. Too much shade will cause flopping of the flower stem and poor fall color. Propagate by root cuttins and seed. In addition to its lovely star-shaped blue spring flowers, the foliage adds an airiness to the summer garden and turns yellow in the fall. For the longest-lasting flowers, give the plant some afternoon shade. Fall color is best when grown in full sun. Use the plant in groups or borders in pollinator, cottage or rock gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect or disease problems.
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.
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
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
1-2 inches long needle-like green leaves are alternate and sessile. The fall color is an attractive yellow. New leaves have a fringe of hairs hence the common name.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Blue
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Individual star-shaped flowers have 5 blue petals and are borne in loose terminal panicles. Blooms in April.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit detail
Seeds are born in narrow, erect follicles that dry and split open as the fruit matures. Appear in pairs.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stems are upright with fine hairs. Have a milky sap when broken
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Distribution
AL, AR, FL, GA, MO, NC, OK, SC, TX
Wildlife value
The flowers attract butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Follicle
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Naturalized Area; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Slope/Bank; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden