Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Starstruck Blue Star: A Shrub-Sized Green Mound Behind Lavender
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Starstruck blue star is an amsonia that opens loose clusters of small, sky blue, star-shaped flowers in late spring. The flowers are pretty, but the plant earns its spot after they fade: a very full, rounded mound of wide, vibrant green leaves with pale midribs on dark olive stems that looks good all season.
It grows about three feet tall and a little wider than tall, so it reads like a small shrub without the pruning saw. That makes it a handy backdrop for a lavender planting.
Starstruck at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Amsonia 'Starstruck' |
| Flowers | Sky blue five-pointed stars, about 3/4 inch across |
| Foliage | Vibrant green with lighter midribs, on dark olive stems |
| Size | 30 to 36 inches tall, 38 to 44 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks early June, lasts three to four weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Good for pollinators; deer resistant |
How it fits with lavender
Starstruck blooms just ahead of most English lavender, so its blue stars open the season and then hand the stage to the purple spikes in front. Through summer, the solid green mound gives silver lavender foliage something dark and calm to sit against.
The two do not share identical needs. Starstruck handles sun and tolerates lean soil once it settles in, but it likes regular moisture more than lavender does. Give it the back of the bed, where a soaker line or the edge of a lawn sprinkler can reach it, and keep lavender on the higher, drier front edge. Leave a good three to four feet for its width so it never crowds the lavender's airflow. The Companion Plant Planner helps you sketch the spacing first.
Planting and care through the year
- Site: full sun to part shade in average soil. Full sun gives the best fall color.
- Water: regular moisture, especially the first season. Once established it handles heat and humidity well.
- After bloom: cut stems back by about a third to keep the mound dense and full.
- Fall and winter: long-lived and fully hardy in Michigan. Leave the foliage standing for fall color, then cut it back in late fall or early spring.
- Problems: few. Rust or leaf spot shows up now and then but rarely matters.
Wear gloves when you trim. Like other amsonias, it has a milky sap that can irritate skin.
Starstruck or Storm Cloud?
Both are shrub-like blue stars. Starstruck is the more compact, densely stemmed one, with wider leaves and a slightly later bloom than many blue stars. Storm Cloud is taller with very dark foliage. For a home lavender bed, Starstruck stays more in scale.
Plug trays or bare root
Starstruck is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for growers and anyone potting up their own plants, and as a bare root plant for planting straight into the garden. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Does Starstruck need dividing?
Rarely. Established plants are happy to stay put for years, which is part of why it works as a shrub stand-in.
Is it a good cut flower?
It is fair as a cut flower and poor for drying. Most people grow it for the long-season foliage rather than the vase.
Will deer eat it?
Deer tend to leave it alone, so it pairs well with lavender in open, rural yards.
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