Baptisia australis
syn. Baptisia caerulea; Baptisia confusa; Baptisia exaltata; Baptisia minor; Baptisia versicolor
Blue False Indigo, Blue Wild Indigo
Blue False Indigo, Blue Wild Indigo
Type Perennial
Hardy range 3A to 9A
Height 24" to 4' / 60cm to 1.20m
Spread 36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate Slow
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Hardy range 3A to 9A
Height 24" to 4' / 60cm to 1.20m
Spread 36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate Slow
Form Upright or erect
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous
Bloom Color Blue
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
The flowers are suitable for cut flowers and suitable for dried flowers.
Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.
Leaf Color Green and silvery
This plant has attractive foliage.
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes
This plant may need staking to maintain its shrub-like form. Baptisia will self-sow and the resulting seedlings can be transplanted. Although slow-growing the first few years, the blue dye obtained from its seeds is used as an alternative to the dye of Indigo when shortened supplies warrant it. The mature plant is difficult to transplant, because of a deep tap root. Deadhead after blooming; Cut back to 6" in the fall; Remove dead foliage only in the spring. Plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. Often planted with: Helianthus, Hibiscus, Miscanthus, Pennisetum, Heliopsis, and Rudbeckia.
Use a wire cage or stake and twine for support if desired. Although deadheading spent blossoms is preferable, you can leave blooms on this plant for decorative seed pods (good for seed collecting).
This plant may need staking to maintain its shrub-like form. Baptisia will self-sow and the resulting seedlings can be transplanted. Although slow-growing the first few years, the blue dye obtained from its seeds is used as an alternative to the dye of Indigo when shortened supplies warrant it. The mature plant is difficult to transplant, because of a deep tap root. Deadhead after blooming; Cut back to 6" in the fall; Remove dead foliage only in the spring. Plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. Often planted with: Helianthus, Hibiscus, Miscanthus, Pennisetum, Heliopsis, and Rudbeckia.
Use a wire cage or stake and twine for support if desired. Although deadheading spent blossoms is preferable, you can leave blooms on this plant for decorative seed pods (good for seed collecting).