Amsonia 'Blue Ice'

Any gardener with a damp site in light shade to full sun would do well to plant plenty of Amsonia ‘Blue Ice.’ This first-rate ground cover produces a carpet of star-shaped, periwinkle-blue flowers in May and June, golden yellow fall color, and shiny, Willow-shaped leaves all season long. It has no down time.

‘Blue Ice’ was formerly classified as a compact hybrid of the North American native Amsonia tabernaemontana, but after extensive trials at Mt. Cuba Center, they have deemed this diminutive Blue Star a “horticulturally superior form of the non-native species, A. orientalis.” By either classification, it is an exceptional edging plant for damp sites and will spread gradually by rhizome. Best of all, this long-lived plant's acrid, milky sap makes it virtually deer-proof. Because it may also irritate the gardener's skin, gloves are advisable when planting or cutting its flowers for indoor display. For more information on the growing and care of Amsonia, click Growing Guide.

For more information on the growing and care of Amsonia, click Growing Guide.