Stems erect, seldom somewhat ascending at base, moderately to sparsely pubescent, some­times especially around petiole bases, or glabrous; branches ex­ceeding infructescence. Leaves: petiole 1–4 mm in stem leaves, 1–2 mm or absent in branch leaves; stem leaf blades ligulate to very narrowly elliptic (or very narrowly lanceolate), 2.5–6.5 cm × 3–10 mm, margins usually at least slightly revolute, ciliate or not ciliate, apex narrowly acute; branch leaf blades linear to ligulate (very narrowly elliptic), 3–5.6 cm × 1–3 mm, margins often more deeply revolute than on stem leaf blades. Flowers: sepals narrowly deltate, 1–1.5(–2) mm; corolla tube 6–8 mm, lobes (5–)6–8(–10) mm, margins not ciliate. Follicles 7.5–13.5 cm × 2–3(–3.5) mm.

Flowering spring; fruiting summer. Pine and oak woods, sand barrens, bluffs, sand hills, occasionally swampy fields, flood plains; elevation range unreported, often apparently low (0–100 m); Ala., Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.

Rare specimens of Amsonia ciliata from Texas resem­ble morphologically the southeastern var. ciliata rather than the very similar var. texana. The occurrence of var. ciliata so far from its usual range is unlikely enough that the identity of these few specimens should be considered questionable.