Add Color Around Your Patio With An Underrated Easy-To-Grow Perennial

Your patio décor and furniture often changes with the seasons. Why shouldn't your patio plants, too? A plant that offers year-round color between its leaves and flowers is the patio hack you didn't know you needed. There's a plant native to the Ouachita Mountains in central Arkansas that starts its blooming season in spring with pale blue, star-shaped flowers, and it only gets better from there. As summer approaches, the fine, airy foliage of this pretty Amsonia species takes center stage, adding a soft texture to patio borders and containers. But its grand finale is in fall, when the entire plant bursts into a brilliant golden yellow that rivals any tree in autumn color. The plant in question is blue star (Amsonia hubrichtii).

This herbaceous perennial, sometimes also called threadleaf blue star or Hubricht's bluestar, thrives in Zones 5 to 8. It's a favorite among small space gardeners for its aforementioned seasonal displays; its deer-resistance, which is great for homeowners who don't fence in their ground-floor patios; and the fact that it's rarely bothered by pests or diseases. Its versatility means it fits beautifully into borders around patios or containers on decks and balconies. Whether planted in a large pot as a thriller or filler or used as a backdrop for other, stouter perennials in a raised patio bed, threadleaf blue star brings texture, color, and elegance to any outdoor living space.

The key to growing a healthy Hubricht's bluestar on a patio, balcony, or other outdoor living space is giving it the right combination of sunlight and room to stretch. It grows best in full sun, although it can tolerate part shade. To ensure vigorous growth and a beautiful fall landscape that's perfect for shaded or sunny patios, plant blue star in a location that receives a minimum of two hours of direct sunlight each day. It prefers a well-drained planter or garden bed, and does well in soil that's average to poor once established. Use a mix of garden soil, coarse sand, and compost.

Water once a week during the first growing season to help your threadleaf blue star establish a strong root system. Once it's settled in, this plant is somewhat drought-tolerant and prefers dry soil over moist. If you're growing it in containers, as you likely will be with patio, deck, or balcony gardening, you might need to water more frequently. The soil in containers dries out faster than in-ground gardens. Deadheading in the garden isn't a must for blue star. You can leave the flower stems standing through fall and winter for added seasonal interest. Cut the plant back to the ground in late winter or early spring before it starts growing again. After it blooms in late spring, cut the stems back to encourage a more compact shape.