Digging deeperPlant Library

Other Names:  Narrowleaf or Arkansas Bluestar, A. hubrichtii

Ornamental Features

Narrow-Leaf Blue Star has steel blue star-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer, which are interesting on close inspection. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its ferny leaves are lime green in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous harvest gold in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Narrow-Leaf Blue Star is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Narrow-Leaf Blue Star is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Narrow-Leaf Blue Star will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average conditions that are neither too wet nor too dry. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by cuttings.