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Herbaceous Perennial

Amsonia ciliata 'Halfway to Arkansas'

A clump-forming perennial, to around 1.2m high, with narrow, glossy green leaves fringed with fine downy hairs. Clusters of star-shaped, pale blue flowers are produced at the tips of the stems in early summer. Leaves turn golden yellow and purple in autumn

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Apocynaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Clump forming
Genus: Amsonia are clump-forming perennials with milky sap, lance-shaped leaves and terminal panicles of small, starry blue flowers in spring and summer
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Thrives in most moist but well drained soils. In warmer areas, flowers may last better in light or afternoon shade, but autumn colour is best in full sun.

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, or by softwood or basal cuttings in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back in late winter before spring growth appears. Plants may be trimmed back after flowering to maintain a compact shape

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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