Native of the Month...

This drought has certainly put some of our "drought resistant" trees and plants to the test, and many of what I consider to be very drought resistant have failed, but one plant has surprised me, Amsonia illustris, or Shining Blue Star. I always considered this to be a plant that is moisture sensitive, but has proven to be very tolerant of our current conditions! One of the many reasons I chose it as our second Native of the Month!

Amsonia illustris ©Missouri Botanical Garden



This plant is also great for the lazy gardener, and can be treated much like an ornamental grass, in other words, cut it down once a year and leave it alone. It can even be propagated by dividing it and transplants very well!

Amsonia illustris ©Missouri Botanical Garden

Shining blue star thrives in the shade, and in the sun. It thrives with lots of water, or a little water. It gets about two feet high, and starts to slow down around three feet wide, but this plant can be divided and planted around the garden. In other words, one plant quickly becomes two plants, and three plants, and before you know it your garden is full of this beautiful native perennial that comes back year after year!

We have a lot of this species on campus, and you are likely to see more in the future! Thanks for reading, and I'll see you outside!