With a dense cluster of thin stems with filament-like leaves, this bushy plant reaches 10–24-inches tall with showy clusters of snow-white, pin-wheel-like flowers. Amsonia and other members of the Dogbane Family have a milky, poisonous sap.

FLOWER: March–May. In clusters of 5–10 flowers, the delicate, white, tubular flowers have a 1–1 3/4-inch long (23–45 mm), thin flower tube that flares open into 5 pointed petal-like lobes each 3/16–3/8-inch long (5–9 mm). The tube slightly constricts beneath the opening and has a pale yellow throat. The fruit is a smooth, 2 3/4–3 1/2-inch long, pod-like follicle without constrictions that dries and splits open on one side.

LEAVES: Alternate but crowded. Blades smooth, grass-like to thread-like; 3/4–2 inches long (2–5 cm) and at most 3/16-inch wide (5 mm). Leaves densely cover the upright stems and can be either hairless (var. longiflora) or hairy (var. salpignatha).

HABITAT: Sandy, rocky limestone soils, gypsum clays of hills; desert scrublands.

ELEVATION: 4,000–5,100 feet.

RANGE: NM, TX.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Woolly Bluestar, A. tomentosa, in southern NM deserts, can be either hairless or densely woolly with oval to lance-shaped leaves, has lavender flowers with a tube less than 1/2-inch long (12 mm), and a seed pod with constrictions between seeds.

NM COUNTIES: Southern NM in low-elevation, arid habitats: Catron, Chaves, Dona Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Otero, Sierra.