Thu–Fri 8–4 · Sat 8–2
Sun
Full sun
Water
Dry
Height
1–1.5 ft
Bloom time
Spring
Bloom color
Blue
Deer
Resistant
Zones
4–9
Zones 4–9Fall colorDeer resistant

Dwarf Bluestar 'Blue Ice'

Amsonia 'Blue Ice'

Ice-blue star flowers in spring on a tidy 12 to 18 inch mound, then weeks of golden fall color. Deer-proof and drought-tolerant.

Out of season
Pricing

Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup

1
30-day replacement promise
Reserve for nursery pickup
No payment online · we pull, you pay at pickup.
Pickup address
125 Clover Hill Lane
Woodville VA · 22749 · open in Maps
Next pickup days
  • Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
  • Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
  • Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Why we grow it

Spring blue flowers, tidy summer form, and brilliant fall gold. three seasons of interest in one compact plant.

'Blue Ice' is a compact, mounded amsonia that packs all the blue-star charm into a tighter package suitable for the front of a border or a container. Starry, ice-blue flowers cluster at the tips of stiff stems in spring, followed by dense, fine-textured foliage that stays tidy and attractive all summer. In fall the whole plant turns brilliant golden-yellow, which earns it a second look from every passerby. It's more compact than the straight Amsonia species, typically 12 to 18 inches instead of 2 to 3 feet, which makes it easier to work into smaller garden designs. The fall color is the real selling point: the golden display can last four to six weeks, often into November. Completely deer-proof, drought-tolerant once established, and completely undemanding once planted correctly. One of the most reliable four-season perennials in the native palette.

What you're getting

A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.

Healthy, container-grown dwarf bluestar 'blue ice' propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.

Quick factsat a glance
Sun
Full sun
Water
Dry
Mature size
1–1.5 ft · 18–24 in wide
Bloom time
Spring
Bloom color
Blue
USDA zones
4–9
Family
Apocynaceae
Native range
Hybrid cultivar derived from North American Amsonia species
How to grow it

Care notes for dwarf bluestar 'blue ice'.

Plant in full sun to part shade in average to dry, well-drained soil. Cut back by half after flowering to encourage denser growth. Do not over-water or over-fertilize. lean conditions produce better form and color. The milky sap is mildly toxic; handle with care. No division needed for many years.

Pairs well with these.

Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside dwarf bluestar 'blue ice'.