Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Storm Cloud Blue Star: Dark Foliage and Pale Stars for Sunny Beds
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Storm Cloud blue star is an eastern bluestar, Amsonia tabernaemontana, that looks dramatic from the day it breaks ground. Its spring stems are nearly black, its lance-shaped leaves are very dark green with distinct silver veins, and in late spring the top of the plant fills with light periwinkle blue, star-shaped flowers.
It matures into a wide mound about two to two and a half feet tall and more than three feet across, a size that can stand in for a small shrub.
Storm Cloud at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Storm Cloud' |
| Flowers | Light periwinkle blue stars, about 3/4 inch |
| Foliage | Very dark green with silver veins; near-black spring stems; yellow in fall |
| Size | 24 to 30 inches tall, 38 to 42 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks early June, long blooming |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
Using its dark foliage with lavender
Most lavender companions are chosen for flowers. Storm Cloud is chosen for contrast. Lavender's foliage is silver-gray and its spikes are purple; set them in front of a nearly black-green mound and both colors jump forward. The silver veins in Storm Cloud's leaves even pick up the silver of the lavender.
Its pale stars open in late May, just before lavender begins, so the bed has blue early and purple after. Plant Storm Cloud behind the lavender with three or more feet to spread, and keep its extra water on its side of the bed. It tolerates leaner soil once established but appreciates a bit more moisture than lavender. Plan the layout with the Companion Plant Planner.
Growing it well
- Site: full sun to part shade in average soil with regular moisture. Full sun gives the best fall color.
- Young plants: start out vase-shaped and fill out with age, so be patient the first year or two.
- After bloom: shear by about a third for a tighter mound.
- Heat and humidity: very heat tolerant once established and handles humid summers with few foliage problems.
- Winter: long-lived and fully hardy in Michigan. Cut back in late fall or early spring.
It has earned top performer marks in university trials, including in Michigan, which is a nice vote of confidence for Great Lakes gardens. Wear gloves when trimming, since the milky sap can irritate skin.
Other good spots
Storm Cloud suits native gardens, pollinator gardens, mass plantings and rain gardens. In a larger landscape, a row of them makes a low, deer-resistant hedge line.
Plug trays or bare root
Storm Cloud is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and as a bare root plant. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
How does Storm Cloud compare with Starstruck?
Storm Cloud is taller, with much darker leaves and stems. Starstruck is more compact and bright green.
Do the dark stems stay dark all season?
The near-black stem color is strongest in spring. The dark, silver-veined leaves carry the look through summer before turning yellow in fall.
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