Even if Amsonia didn’t have pretty light blue flowers in the spring, I would still plant it for its beautiful fall foliage.
And it is for its fall foliage that I forgive it for being so deeply rooted that once you’ve planted it, you aren’t going to easily move it or remove it.
And it is for its fall foliage that I do the messy job every summer of cutting off the seed heads so that it doesn’t self-sow itself all over the garden.
That pruning job is messy because Amsonia has sap that is the consistency of white glue. No matter how careful you are when cutting off those seed heads, you’ll end up with that sap on your pants, shirt, and gloves. Because if you are wise, you’ll wear long pants, long sleeves, and gloves even on a hot summer day to keep that glue-like sap off your skin. And don’t forget to wear a hat and safety glasses too.
Then you’ll wear the same outfit every year because that sap also stains those clothes. They are now fit only for cutting the seed heads off the Amsonia, and perhaps for painting.
For that fall color…
I have always admired this plant in autumn while strolling about the local arboretum. I never realized that it could be so much work…but maybe it’s worth it for all that color! Happy Fall!
Ummm, yikes. I have some, and have been trying to dig it up. But it just laughs at me! And don’t get started on plumbago or passiflora Maypop. Ugh!