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Shining Bluestar Wildflower Perennial Forb
Shining Bluestar ( Amsonia illustris)
▼
Shining Bluestar Wildflower Perennial Forb
Shining Bluestar ( Amsonia illustris)
Amsonia illustris

Shining Bluestar

Seeds

Packet $3.00
1 Ounce $14.00
1/4 Lb. $50.00
1/2 Lb. $100.00
1 Lb. $200.00

Plants

38 Plug Tray Out of Stock
50 Plug Tray $95.00
SKU: N/A Categories: , Tags: ,

Description

Shining Bluestar (Amsonia illustris), also known as Ozark Bluestar, is a spring-blooming native perennial with clusters of star-shaped, light blue flowers that brighten up early-season gardens. Native to the central U.S.—especially Missouri—it thrives in moist, sandy, rocky, or clay soils along streams, ponds, and in rain gardens.

This warm-season perennial grows 2 to 3 feet tall and maintains a tidy, shrub-like form. Its glossy green foliage turns golden yellow in fall, adding multi-season appeal. In ideal conditions, stems may become leggy—cutting them back by half after blooming helps promote denser, stronger growth.

Deer- and rabbit-resistant due to its mildly toxic sap, Shining Bluestar supports pollinators like bees and Swallowtail butterflies. It thrives in full to partial sun and is hardy in zones 5–9.

Seed Details

Weight 0.025 lbs
Dimensions 3.5 × 0.1 × 2.25 in
Kind

Seeds, Plants
Items - Seeds

, , , , ,

Items - Plants

None, 38 Plug Tray, 50 Plug Tray
Germination Code

Sociability

Sun Requirements

,

Soil Moisture

, , ,

Height

USDA Zones

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Bloom Colors

Bloom Period

,

Plant Spacing

Details

Seeds/Packet20
Germination Code60 Day Cold Moist Stratification
SociabilitySelf-Seeding
Sun RequirementsFull Sun, Partial Sun
Soil MoistureDry, Dry Mesic, Mesic, Wet-Mesic
BenefitsDeer Resistant
Height3-4'
Hardiness Zone3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Bloom ColorBlue
Bloom PeriodApril, May
Spacing1-2'

PLS stands for Pure Live Seed, an industry-standard measure of seed quality. It reflects the portion of seed in a batch that is viable and capable of germinating.

What this means for you: when you purchase 1 lb. of PLS seed, the physical weight of the seed you receive will be slightly more than 1 lb. That’s because we account for non-viable seed and natural inert material upfront, so you receive a full pound of live, plantable seed.

Many companies sell bulk seed by total weight, which can include filler and non-viable seed. By pricing based on PLS, we make sure you’re getting exactly what you paid for—high-quality native seed with more predictable, successful germination.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our in-depth article on what PLS is and why it matters.

Here are some good resources to get you started:

Seeds & Seed Mixes:

Seeds and seed mixes ship nationwide, year-round, typically within 3–5 business days. If you need to postpone a seed mix shipment until fall, please note this in the order notes at checkout.

Live Plants:

Live plants are available year-round while inventory lasts and ship to select Midwest states due to plant health and hardiness considerations. After your order is placed, we’ll contact you to coordinate a spring shipping window, as many plants are overwintered and ship once dormancy breaks.

States we ship live plants to:
Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.

Live Stakes:

Live stakes are available by request only and must be ordered by submitting a contact form. Ordering is open seasonally from November 1 through February 28.

Live stakes ship to the same select Midwest states as live plants due to establishment requirements.

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