Seaford Skies Blue Star (Amsonia 'Seaford Skies')
am-SO-nee-ah 'Seaford Skies'

Deciduous Perennial Erect, Clumping in the Apocynaceae Family

About Bluestars

Amsonia (Bluestar) is a genus of roughly 18-20 herbaceous perennial species in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, the great majority native to North America with two Old World outliers -- A. orientalis from the eastern Mediterranean and A. elliptica from East Asia. Only a handful of species and their cultivars are widely grown in gardens.

Across the genus, plants form tidy clumps of wiry, upright-to-arching stems clothed in narrow to willow-like leaves, topped in spring by loose clusters of small, star-shaped, five-lobed flowers in shades of pale to steel blue. What distinguishes the genus in the landscape is its exceptional autumn performance: most bluestars turn brilliant gold to butter-yellow in fall, a trait that -- along with drought tolerance and deer resistance from its milky, bitter sap -- has made the genus a favorite of garden designers.

Pros

  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant
  • Outstanding golden fall foliage color
  • Drought-tolerant once established
  • Virtually pest- and disease-free

Cons

  • Sap can irritate skin/mouth if cut or chewed
  • Flops in too much shade
  • Slow to establish from seed
  • Short 2-4 week bloom window
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 60 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Butterflies, Container, Container, Deciduous, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Deer Resistant, Edging, Edging, Fall Color, Fall Color, Fast Growth Rate, Fast Growth Rate, Formal Garden, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Accents, Good for Beginners, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Most Popular, Mounded, Mounded, Native to North America, Native to North America, Normal Soil, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Partial Sun, Perennial, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Reblooms, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period May
Flower Color Sky Blue
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!