Amsonia (blue star)

Amsonia's willowy golden fall foliage.

* Common name: Blue star

* Botanical name: Amsonia hubrichtii

* What it is: A native perennial flower with an upright habit, star-shaped light-blue spring flowers and billowing, thready foliage that turns bright gold in fall.

* Size: 3 feet tall with a nearly similar spread.

* Where to use: Nice backdrop plant in a perennial garden or border bed. Also works well massed on a bank or in a large open area where it creates a meadow look. Full sun to light shade.

* Care: Cut to ground at end of winter. Plants also can be sheared back by one-half to one-third right after flowering if you want to keep them more compact. Very drought tolerant once established. An annual scattering of Flower-tone or similar high-phosphorus organic fertilizer is fine. No spraying.

* Great partner: Purple asters or burgundy mums make a nice fall combo with amsonia’s golden fall foliage.