Storm Chaser Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii 'Storm Chaser')
am-SO-nee-ah hew-BRIK-tee-eye 'Storm Chaser'

Deciduous Perennial in the Apocynaceae Family

Amsonia hubrichtii, commonly called Arkansas bluestar or threadleaf bluestar, is a North American native perennial prized for its willowy, needle-fine foliage that builds into an airy, cloud-like mound from spring through fall. In May and June it bears clusters of pale powder-blue, star-shaped flowers at the stem tips, but its signature feature is a blazing golden-yellow fall display that rivals any shrub or tree in the border.

Named the Perennial Plant Association's 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year, it is a tough, long-lived, essentially pest-free plant that is native to a narrow range in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma -- where it is considered globally vulnerable (NatureServe G3) and state-endangered in Oklahoma due to habitat loss -- even as it thrives as a garden staple nationwide.

Pros

  • Fine, feathery threadleaf texture unlike any other perennial
  • 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year
  • Spectacular golden fall color
  • Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, virtually pest-free

Cons

  • Sap can irritate skin (wear gloves cutting back)
  • Flops without a post-bloom cutback
  • Slow to establish and reach full size
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 5a - 8b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Edging, Fall Color, Fast Growth Rate, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Mounded, Native to North America, Normal Soil, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period April to May
Flower Color
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size


© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

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.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


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!