Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

slimpod, fringed bluestar, blue dogbane

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Amsonia ciliata

Family:

Apocynaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

2-3 ft tall by 2-3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,blue

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden. Blooms late spring. Fall foliage color is orange-yellow.

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Grow from seed or division. Prune to 10 inches after flowering.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

--|----|----|----|--|---|----|--- <------------>

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8B,9A

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

The flowers attract long-tongued insects such as carpenter bees, hummingbird moths, and butterflies.  Not known to be a larval plant for monarch butterflies.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar. 





Avoided by mammalian herbivores.

Native Habitats:

Flatwoods, chalky hills.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The blue tubular flower opens into 5 petal-like lobes with a white center. Several blossoms grow in a loose cluster. Narrow seed pods and dark yellow fall color make this an attractive garden plant.