Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Baptisia Australis
Blue False Indigo

- Family
- Fabaceae
- Height
- 36 to 48 inches
- Width
- 36 to 48 inches
- Flower color
- Indigo-blue
- Foliage color
- Blue-green
- Bloom time
- April to May
- Light
- Full sun; tolerates light shade
- Water
- Drought-tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low; prune after flowering if seed pods are not desired
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts butterflies; deer and rabbit resistant
About this plant
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.
Works well in
Borders · Sun Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Waterwise Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Peonies · Coneflowers · Salvias · Shasta daisies · Asters · Catmint
Design tip
Foliage and form do most of the work here, so lean on texture and repetition rather than one flowering moment. Give it open sun and room to fill out, and repeat it in threes or fives so the planting reads as one sweep instead of scattered dots.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
