The Well-Tended Perennial Garden The Essential Guide to Planting and Pruning Techniques, Third Edition

Amsonia elliptica has wider,

glossier leaves than A. tabernaemon-

tana. Its rounded, shrubby form holds

up fairly well in full sun with no

pruning. It tends to be a heavy seeder

in moist years and should be dead-

headed before pods mature. When

grown in shade, prune it as you would

A. tabernaemontana.

Amsonia hubrichtii, Arkansas

bluestar (zones 5–9), is primarily

grown for its feathery foliage that

turns a rich gold in fall. In fact, A.

hubrichtii has begun to eclipse other

Amsonia species in popularity thanks

to its outstanding foliage and autumn

color. It is drought tolerant once

established and grows to 3 ft. in dry

soils and to 4 ft. in moister sites. It can

become chlorotic in high pH soils.

Anaphalis triplinervis

three-veined everlasting

compoSitae

Papery white flower heads; woolly (long

and entangled soft hairs), 3-veined leaves;

zigzag stems

12–18 in. high; 12–15 in. wide

Full sun–part shade

Blooms August–October

Zones 3–8

pruning Three-veined everlasting

has long-lasting flowers and a long

bloom period. Deadhead to lateral

Amsonia hubrichtii

Anaphalis triplinervis
‘Sommerschnee’