Design anchor · Sunny gardens Growing conditions Sun: Full sun to part sun Soil: Average, well-drained soil Plant details Size: ~2–3 ft tall × 2–3 ft wide Bloom time: Spring Deer resistant: Yes Why we love it Delicate, star-shaped blue flowers bloom in late spring Shrub-like structure gives presence to the garden Leaves turn a beautiful yellow in fall Related to the milkweed family; its milky sap helps deter deer and other garden mammals Why wildlife loves it Provides late spring nectar for pollinators Host plant for the Snowberry Clearwing hummingbird moth Hollow stems provide nesting habitat for cavity-nesting native bees Fun to see A velvety ring of hairs inside the flower act as bouncers--blocking "nectar-stealing" ants and allowing larger pollinators to squeeze past to ensure pollination
