Bloomipedia
Woolly bluestar (Amsonia tomentosa)
Photo: Liren Varghese via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Woolly bluestar

Amsonia tomentosa

Native to Nevada

Woolly bluestar is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nevada it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

6states
597NV sightings*
1,481U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Nevada

Quick look

Amsonia tomentosa is a species of flowering plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico (Chihuahua). Its common names include woolly bluestar and gray amsonia.

  • It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. NatureServe
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 597 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #66 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

Woolly bluestar gift ideas

Handmade woolly bluestar gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Nevada, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in Nevada (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (228 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Nevada. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records woolly bluestar in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark, Lincoln, Nye.

More Nevada flowers

Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: May–August
Narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis)

Narrowleaf milkweed

Asclepias fascicularis

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: June–August
Rush milkweed (Asclepias subulata)

Rush milkweed

Asclepias subulata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: April–December

Sources