Baptisia Australis | Blue False Indigo
DESCRIPTION
Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue false indigo, is a perennial native to central and eastern North America. It blooms from late spring to early summer, producing tall spires of deep blue to violet pea-like flowers that add bold color to the garden. As the blooms fade, they give way to dark, inflated seed pods that rattle in the wind, adding late-season interest.
Baptisia australis forms a dense, shrub-like habit over time, with foliage that emerges a soft blue-green and matures to a dusky green, creating an elegant backdrop for its vivid blooms. The plant's long taproot allows it to be incredibly drought-tolerant once established, and its roots have historically been used by Indigenous peoples to create a blue dye, giving the plant its "false indigo" name.
DESCRIPTION
Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue false indigo, is a perennial native to central and eastern North America. It blooms from late spring to early summer, producing tall spires of deep blue to violet pea-like flowers that add bold color to the garden. As the blooms fade, they give way to dark, inflated seed pods that rattle in the wind, adding late-season interest.
Baptisia australis forms a dense, shrub-like habit over time, with foliage that emerges a soft blue-green and matures to a dusky green, creating an elegant backdrop for its vivid blooms. The plant's long taproot allows it to be incredibly drought-tolerant once established, and its roots have historically been used by Indigenous peoples to create a blue dye, giving the plant its "false indigo" name.
DESCRIPTION
Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue false indigo, is a perennial native to central and eastern North America. It blooms from late spring to early summer, producing tall spires of deep blue to violet pea-like flowers that add bold color to the garden. As the blooms fade, they give way to dark, inflated seed pods that rattle in the wind, adding late-season interest.
Baptisia australis forms a dense, shrub-like habit over time, with foliage that emerges a soft blue-green and matures to a dusky green, creating an elegant backdrop for its vivid blooms. The plant's long taproot allows it to be incredibly drought-tolerant once established, and its roots have historically been used by Indigenous peoples to create a blue dye, giving the plant its "false indigo" name.
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Family: Fabaceae
Height: 36 to 48 inches
Width: 36 to 48 inches
Foliage color: Blue-green
Flower color: Indigo-blue
Bloom time: April to May
Light requirements: Full sun; tolerates light shade
Water requirements: Drought-tolerant once established
Maintenance: Low; prune after flowering if seed pods are not desired
Growing zone: USDA zones 3 to 9
Wildlife attractors: Attracts butterflies; deer and rabbit resistantThis plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
