'Blue Ice' Amsonia - A Deer Resistant Outstanding Perennial!


Amsonia Blue Ice  by Monrovia Nurseries
The Blue Star perennial family has a hybrid cousin, Amsonia 'Blue Ice' that is an amazingly vigorous plant. It blooms from April and is still blooming right now in mid-June.
photo by Jan Johnsen

 It grows in a 15" tall by 2' wide mound of narrow, dark green, deer-resistant foliage. And in spring it is topped with large clusters of lavender-blue flowers which are much more vivid than other blue stars. It  blooms prolifically and turns a golden yellow in the fall.  Amzonia Blue Ice is a member of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) which means it has a white, milky sap that is toxic to deer and more. Yay!

 The summer foliage looks great in combination with low grasses.

  I recommend trying it with the compact  heavily-banded Miscanthus 'Gold Bar' ornamental grass. 
This grass is also deer-resistant and is topped with a lovely inflorescence in late October. 

 Zones 4-9 - Adaptable to most conditions, however if it is too shady they may topple over. 

 Amsonia 'Blue Ice' is very easy to grow and hardy and drought tolerant once established.  Great for sunny rock gardens - plant with sedum for a great look....











Comments

  1. amy@ofgardens.comJune 30, 2014 at 9:37 PM

    It seems everyone loves this plant, except me! I want to love it, because it does have wonderful attributes, but I just don't.

    ReplyDelete

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