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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Amsonia ciliata (Fringed bluestar)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Amsonia ciliata

Amsonia ciliata Walter

Fringed Bluestar, Bluestar, Texas Bluestar

Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: AMCI

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

The blue star plant grows 15-24 inches tall. The leaves are borne singly, but very close together all the way up the stem to the flower cluster. They are 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long, with one vein running lengthwise down the center and attached directly to the main stem (without a petiole). The leaves are smooth, soft, and slightly smaller toward the upper part of the stem. The narrow tube of the pale blue flower, 1/2 inch long, opens into 5 petal-like lobes in a star shape l/2 inch across, with a ring of white at the center. Several blossoms grow in a loose cluster at the tips of the stems.

 

From the Image Gallery

50 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Follicle
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Flower: Flowers 1 inch

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , MO , NC , OK , SC , TX
Native Distribution: NC to FL, w. to MO & TX
Native Habitat: Dry, open woods; chalky hills

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Well-drained, sandy loam or limestone. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Limestone-based.
Conditions Comments: This plant becomes aggressive in rich, garden soil. It does need some summer water. To keep blue star erect and bushy, cut it back after it has flowered.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Fringed bluestar is a long-lived perennial grown for its handsome foliage and spring flowers. The multi-stemmed clumps, to 3 ft. tall, are crowded with smooth, narrow, light-green leaves giving the plant a fine-textured, delicate appearance. Steel-blue, tubular flowers, the rim flaring to a star-shape, appear in loosely conjested clusters at the tips of the stems. The thin seedpods and golden fall foliage are additional attributes.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division
Description: Seed can be sown outside, 1/2" deep, after collection. Seedlings germinate immediately, but flower the second year following germination. For seeds that have been stored, cut an end off the seed and soak in water 2-3 days. This will aid germination. R
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0505 Collected Apr. 11, 1992 in Kendall County by Lottie Millsaps

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Research Literature

Reslit 1154 - Typification of names of temperate North American plants proposed by Linnaeus (2009) J. L. Reveal and C. E. Jarvis
Reslit 1618 - Flavonol glycosides of Amsonia ciliata (1974) L. E. Urbatsch and T. J. Mabry
Reslit 2625 - Performance of 67 native midwestern US perennials in a low-maintenance landscape (2004) A. L. Thomas, D. Schrock

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature

Additional resources

USDA: Find Amsonia ciliata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Amsonia ciliata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Amsonia ciliata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-10
Research By: TWC Staff

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