Willow leaf bluestar is a native herbaceous perennial in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) found in all areas of NC in moist sites. Genus name honors Dr. John Amson. Specific epithet honors Jakob Theodor von Bergzabern. Willow leaf bluestar grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, forming an attractive vase-shaped clump. It prefers moist well-drained loamy soils but is adaptable to clay and sandy soils. It does best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. In part shade conditions it may become floppy and need to be staked, so prune after flowering to encourage bushiness. In spring it is adorned with clusters of pale blue star-shaped flowers that pollinators visit. The willow-like leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall. It is easy to grow and is deer and rabbit-resistant. Use this plant in native/pollinator gardens, borders, as an accent or mass planted. It can be sited in moist sites such as rain gardens or edges of waterways as well as drier sites. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems More information on Amsonia tabernaemontana .
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
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
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; Multi-stemmed; Vase
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Green lanceolate leaves with entire margins up to 6 inches long and 2.5 inches wide.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Blue
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Light blue star-shaped flowers with a ring of white hairs in the throat bloom in clusters on terminal stems early to mid-spring into early summer. Each ¾ inch wide flower has a tubular corolla with 5 spreading lobes that narrow to a point at the tips.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Narrow cylindrical seed pods 4 to 6 inches long that split along the side to release seeds a row of 8-10 seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Smooth green stems contain a latex sap
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and Eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
Wildlife value
Flowers attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Pond; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland