Baptisia Australis | Blue False Indigo

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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.

 
  • 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 resistant

    This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture.

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