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Lavender companion · grow guide
Blue Star · Amsonia
Plant it in sun to light shade in average, well-drained soil and leave it alone. Slow to establish, but long-lived and drought tolerant once settled, with gold fall color.
Check my zone & planting dates
Full sunLight
Moderate waterAverage drainage
pH 5.5–7.5Soil
Zones 4a–9bHardiness
30″ tall36″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
Mildly toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if String Theory will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–9b
Spring or early fall. Fall planting should be at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Your year with String Theory
When it arrives
Plugs arrive in active growth. Water the tray right away, set it in bright light out of harsh wind, and plant within a few days. If you wait, bump them into 3–4" pots. Harden off for a week before planting out, and keep the root ball moist the first 3–4 weeks.
Spring or early fall. Fall planting should be at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Set the crown with growth buds at or just below (about 1") the soil surface.
Amsonia hubrichtii and larger types about 3 ft apart; compact selections about 2 ft.
Average loam; tolerates clay · pH 5.5–7.5
Fix-it tip: Adaptable. In heavy clay, loosen a wide area and add some compost. Don't over-enrich; rich soil makes floppy stems.
Full sun (tolerates part shade).
Full sun gives the best gold fall color and sturdiest stems. In shade, stems flop; afternoon shade in hot climates helps flowers last longer.
Don’t give up on it
Shoots appear in mid-spring as clusters of slender stems from the crown. First-year plants stay small; it typically takes 2–3 years to fill out.
Wait for shoots; cut back old stems if not done in fall.
Trim by 6" after bloom; water young plants in drought.
Enjoy gold color; cut back after leaves drop if you like.
No care needed.
First season: Keep evenly moist the first season; water weekly in dry weeks.
After that: Drought tolerant once established (after 2–3 years). Water only in long dry spells.
Not needed in average soil. Fertilizer causes floppy growth.
After flowering, cut stems back by about 6" to keep a tidy mound. Leave the rest for fall color, then cut back in late fall or early spring. Stems ooze milky sap; wear gloves if your skin is sensitive.
Rarely needed. Mature clumps are tough to dig; divide in spring only if you want more plants.
Very cold hardy (zone 5; many types colder). No winter protection needed.
Takes heat and humidity well. Thread-leaf types stay fresh-looking through hot summers.
Plant looks small after a yearLikely cause: Normal slow establishment
What to do: Be patient; it fills in by year 2–3
Stems flop openLikely cause: Too much shade or fertilizer
What to do: Cut back by 6" after bloom; give more sun
Little fall colorLikely cause: Too much shade
What to do: Fall color is best in full sun
Yellow leaves with soggy soil mean too wet. Crispy leaf edges in summer mean a young plant is too dry.
Not listed by ASPCA. It's in the dogbane family, which includes toxic plants, and the milky sap can irritate skin and mouths. Discourage pets from chewing stems.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Possible, with care · 5 gallon+
Possible for a few years in a large pot, but its deep roots prefer the ground.
Outdoor plant
Not suited to indoor growing.
Best after a cold winter
Needs normal winter cold dormancy to perform well.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 5 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it near your lavender
Shares lavender's sun and drought tolerance once established. Plant just outside the lavender bed, where soil can be a bit richer; its blue spring flowers and gold fall foliage frame lavender.
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