You Won't Lose Sleep Over Amsonia

Plants with multi-season interest are one of your best bargains because they keep your garden looking vibrant much longer with a lot less work from you. That includes plants that develop pretty pods; fabulous fruit, interesting bark or have leaves that change color. But, since most of us buy plants in the spring when they're in flower or about to bloom, we often have no idea what they'll look like the rest of the year.

Amsonia is a great example; a native plant with three-season interest. Also called 'Blue Star' for its pretty blue flowers in spring, it stays green all summer, and then in autumn the leaves turn warm woody shades from honey to mahogany, depending on the cultivar. The species looks like a giant golden tumbleweed about now. Amsonia is the kind of plant you drive by in the fall and wonder 'What the heck is that?' because you rarely see it for sale this time of year. So make a note now to look to plant some Amsonia next spring to enjoy through next summer and well into the fall.

Reported By: Phran Novelli, KYW Newsradio

(Photo by Phran Novelli)