Looking lovely in the garden this week is the amazing Southeastern US native, Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’. Amsonia, commonly known as blue star, are a group of mostly native, typically deer-resistant perennials, prized both because they make such good drought-tolerant plants and they bear one of the few true blue flowers in the perennial world.
This marks almost nine years to the day, when plantsman Hans Hansen and myself discovered this growing near a woodland stream in central Alabama. We had never seen an amsonia with jet black stems. Thanks to Hans and Walters Gardens, propagules from that original plant are now grown worldwide. It’s amazing how many great garden plants are out there if you just keep your eyes open. Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’ is on the radar to return in January 2026. Add it to your wishlist and we will notify you when it becomes available.
Got these years ago at an Open Days. They have flourished ever since. Great plant. I am also find of Amsonia hubrichtii- love the Fall foliage