Plant of the Week – Amsonia hubrichtii

Amsonia hubrichtii

Amsonia hubrichtii is an interesting perennial that has several features.  Clusters of blue blooms cover the plant in early spring, and the feathery fine foliage looks great all summer.  In addition to these features, this plant gets a yellow-orange fall color, which is rare in perennials.

Amsonia grows well in full sun as well as partial shade, but blooms best in full sun.  It prefers a moist, well-drained soil, and grows around 3’ tall x 3’ wide. Amsonia hubrichtii was named the perennial plant of the year by the Perennial Plant Association in 2011.

There is also a species of Amsonia native to the eastern United States that is also a great plant that has slightly thicker leaves, but still has blue flowers and yellow fall color.  This perennial is known as eastern blue star, or Amsonia tabernaemontana.