General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, loamy soils. Best fall foliage color usually occurs in full sun, but flowers generally last longer if given some afternoon shade in hot sun areas. If grown in too much shade, stems may open up and flop.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

‘Short Stack’ is a dwarf variety of bluestar that typically grows to only 10” tall and to 18” wide. It is an erect, clump-forming plant that features terminal, pyramidal clusters of star-like, sky blue flowers in early spring (April in St. Louis) atop stems clad with small, narrow, willow-shaped leaves. Foliage turns an attractive bright yellow in fall. This cultivar was introduced into commerce by Plant Delights Nursery in North Carolina under the name Amsonia montana ‘Short Stack’. Some confusion currently exists as to whether Amsonia montana (typically small-leaved, low-growing forms of A. tabernaemontana) is a recognized separate species. It is listed herein as a cultivar of Amsonia tabernaemontana.