Plant Profile: Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana

Names

Wideleaf Blue-stars

  • Photo of Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana (Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontanas)

Phonetic Spelling:am-SO-nee-ah tab-er-nay-mon-TAY-nah tab-er-nay-mon-TAY-nah

Genus:Amsonia

Species:tabernaemontana

Family:Apocynaceae

A variant of Amsonia tabernaemontana, known as Wildleaf Blue-stars, is a perennial with broader leaves that thrives in moist floodplain forests and lush slopes.

For optimal growth, it is best to plant this species in a sunny area, as this will minimize maintenance needs. Unlike other plants, it does not require pruning or staking. However, in partially shaded environments, the plant may become more open and could need support to avoid a floppy look. To enhance its fullness, cutting back the plant after it blooms is recommended.

Recognized as the 2006 NC Wildflower of the Year, it showcases a stunning yellow hue in the fall.

Potential issues include rust, which can affect its health.

For further details on Amsonia tabernaemontana, additional resources are available.

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Feature Summary

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Image Gallery

Tags

#drought tolerant
#slopes
#deer resistant
#herbaceous perennial
#forests
#native wildflower
#food source fall
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#Coastal FACW
#clay soils tolerant
#native
#audubon
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Feature Summary

Attributes
Central and Eastern U.S.A.
AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA
Hummingbirds seek out the nectar.
Not edible
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Screening
Attractive Flowers
Fruit
Displays from August to September
Follicle
Flowers
Large clusters of pale blue star-shaped flowers bloom in the spring.
White
Blue
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
This variation of Amsonia tabernaemontana has a wider leaf.
Elliptical
Ovate
Lanceolate
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
9a
9b
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Smooth (glabrous)
Straight
Landscape
Rain Garden
Native Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Container
Patio
Woodland
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Small Space
Slope/Bank
Pond
Butterflies
Songbirds

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Attributes

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central and Eastern U.S.A.

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Distribution

AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Wildlife Value

Hummingbirds seek out the nectar.

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Edibility

Not edible

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Fruit

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Fruit Description

Displays from August to September

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Flowers

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Flower Description

Large clusters of pale blue star-shaped flowers bloom in the spring.

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
White

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Leaves

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Leaf Description

This variation of Amsonia tabernaemontana has a wider leaf.

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Whole Plant Traits

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Cultural Conditions

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Stem

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Stem Form

Straight
Zig Zags

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana Landscape

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. tabernaemontana: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees