Amsonia hubrichtii
2011 PERENNIAL OF THE YEAR
Amsonia hubrichtii is the Perennial Plant Association's 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year. Pronounced am-SO-nee-ah hew-BRIK-tee-eye, this sturdy plant is better known as Arkansas blue star. Light blue flowers in spring are followed by a marvelous display of billowy, ferny foliage in summer. The foliage turns a showy golden yellow in fall, making for a colorful autumn display that is second to none among herbaceous perennials. Although named for its spring flowers, the fall display is probably why gardeners like this plant the most. It goes great with some of the fall show-offs like Echinacea, Sambucus ‘Black Lace', and ornamental grasses.
Blue star is best grown in full sun, where, once established, it is a drought tolerant plant. It is adaptive to various soils and diseases are rare. Hardy to Zone 4, this Perennial of the Year is a tough, hardy plant that will give you years of performance in the garden.
Photo by Melanie Blandford
