Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Storm Cloud' is an ornamental cultivar of bluestar, an upright, showy perennial related to milkweed; the cultivar is noted for its eye-catching purple-black stems which contrast well against bright green foliage during the spring and summer. In the autumn months, foliage turns to a striking golden-orange hue, adding multi-season additional seasonal interest. 'Storm Cloud' typically reaches a height of 2-3' tall in vase-like clumps to about 3' wide, and plants produce a cloud of soft, pale blue flowers atop their mounded growth through late spring, occasionally reblooming through the summer.
Naturally resistant to deer and rabbit foraging, 'Storm Cloud' makes for a great addition to garden types across a wide range of soils, as long as it is provided with average water and full sun. Since this Amsonia's pale blue flowers attract pollinators, butterflies, and hummingbirds, it makes for a great addition to pollinator gardens, but 'Storm Cloud' will also thrive in more xeric conditions like rock gardens, with heavy drought tolerance once established.
(Photos courtesy of Proven Winners)