Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type:Â Herbaceous Perennial
Height at Maturity:Â 3-4′
Width at Maturity:Â 3-4′
Spacing:Â 36″ for mass plantings; 6’+ for space between plants
Spacing:Â 36″ for mass plantings; 6’+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form:Â Upright
Growth Rate:Â Moderate
Flower Color:Â Â Indigo Blue
Flower Size:Â .5 to 1″Â
Flowering Period:Â Late Spring to Early Summer
Flower Type:Â Lupine-like, Pea-like on 12″ spikes
Fragrant Flowers:Â –
Foliage Color:Â Blue-Green
Fragrant Foliage:Â –
Berries:Â Â Attractive seed pods
Berry Color:Â Black
Sun Needs:Â Full Sun to Part Shade, 4 hours of sunlight or more per day
Water Needs:Â Â Average, Low when established
Soil Type:Â Clay (amended), Loam, Sandy, Silt (amended)Â
Soil Moisture / Drainage:Â Moist But Well Drained
Soil pH:Â 6.0 – 7.0 (Slightly Acid to Neutral)
Maintenance / Care:Â Low
Attracts:Â Visual Attention, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators
Resistances:Â Deer, Disease, Drought, Clay Soil, Erosion, Dry Soil, Poor Soil, Rabbit, Rocky Soil
Description
Baptisia australis, commonly called Blue False Indigo, is a North American native plant the features attractive indigo-blue lupine-like flowers on 12 inch tall spikes that rise well above the 3 foot high and wide foliage mound in late spring to early summer. The attractive blue-green leaves resemble clover. Inflated seeds pods follow the flowers turning black when dry. If you have kids or grandkids they’ll love shaking the pods just to hear the seeds rattle. Stems with seed pods are great for cutting and use in dried flower arrangements. A very easy plant to grow that is a fine addition to perennial borders, cottage gardens, prairies, meadows and native plant gardens.
The name false indigo refers to the use of this plant by early American colonists as a substitute for Indigofera (true indigo) in making dyes. Rather than the flowers, it’s the plants broken stems that secrete a sap that turns dark blue.
Landscape / Garden Uses
Growing 3 to 4 feet tall and equally as wide, Blue False Indigo is ideal for use an accent or grouping in perennial and meadow gardens and even landscape borders. Its upright growth habit serves well as a centerpiece or vertical accent in larger container gardens. A fine addition to butterfly gardens, pollinator gardens, meadow gardens, cottage gardens and low water needs gardens.
Growing Preferences
Baptisia australis is very easy to grow in a moist to dry well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. We suggest at least 4 hours or more of sunlight for best flowering. Tolerates poor and dry soils when established. A constantly soggy or wet soil can cause root rot. Plants can be cut back near the ground in late winter before new growth begins to emerge.
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