Amsonia are valued plants in the herbaceous border for their long lasting pale blue flowers. A. tabernae montana originate in grassland and woodland edges in east USA. They are clump forming perennials that will grow in any moist but well drained soil in full sun or in dappled shade. They will also naturalise well near streams or in woodland in partial shade.
The plant produces many erect shoots or stems with lance shaped matt green leaves of up to 3in in length. Dense rounded cymes or panicles of flowers are produced at the ends of these stems. They appear in late spring and carry on flowering with their light blue flowers long into midsummer.
In autumn as the plant begins to go dormant it should be cut back to ground level and the old stems removed to the compost heap.
When still dormant in spring the plants can readily be lifted and divided with a spade. Cuttings can also be taken from the base of the plant in early summer.
This is an easy and reliable herbaceous plant to grow. Its blue flowers contrast well in the border with other daisy flowered white or yellow herbaceous plants.
