Amsonia tabernaemontana Walter
Dwarf bluestar, common bluestar
Bluestar is native to the central United States. It prefers rocky woodlands and ravines, stream borders, limestone glades, and moist sandy meadows.
Plants: Perennial, 12-36" (30-91 cm), forming large clumps with many branches. Stems are light green, smoothly cylindrical, and hairless.
Leaves: Narrow, oval, bright green above, pale below, 2-4" (5-10 cm) long. Leaves have a petiole (stem) up to 1" (2.5 cm) long.
Flowers: In compact, rounded panicles. Each flower is tubular, opening to a star of five narrow pointed light blue petals ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) around. Flower centers are pale yellow. They appear in May.
Fruits: Cylindrical seed pods are 3-4½" (8-12 cm) long, containing hard, black seeds. Pods are curved and sharp-tipped.
Amsonia tabernaemontana at Illinois Wildflowers
Amsonia tabernaemontana on fyi.extension.wisc.edu (Great photos and info)
Amsonia tabernaemontana on plants.ces.ncsu.edu
Amsonia tabernaemontana at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Amsonia tabernaemontana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
Range: Zones 3-9: