Bluestar is reminiscent of milkweed plants (and even has milky sap!) but has a cluster of large, blue, star-shaped flowers. These tube-shaped flowers are visited by insects with tongues long enough to reach the nectar inside.
Pollinator Type
Butterflies, moths, bees, hummingbirds
Plant Type
Herbaceous perennial
Zone
3 to 9
Height
2 to 4 ft.
Spread
1 ft.
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Moisture Requirement
Medium Soil
Bloom Color
Blue
Bloom Time
May
Design Considerations
Grows best in large masses. Leaves turn yellow in fall.
Care and Maintenance
If grown in part shade, stems may not stand up on the their own and may require staking if not planted in a clump.
Pest and Diseases
Rust can occur. Avoided by mammals because of its milky sap.
Establishment and Propagation
Plant as a plug or start from seed after cold, moist stratification for 60 days.
Commercial Availability
Occasionally available
Alternative Plant Selections
Swamp Milkweed, Whorled Milkweed
Native Status
Illinois native statewide
Fall Color
Yellow
Growth habit
Erect, clump-forming
Number of Caterpillars that Use this as a Host Plant
