Baptisia Australis 2Gal

Latin Name: Baptisia australis

Common Name: Blue False Indigo / Blue Wild Indigo

Zones: 3–9

Height & Spread: 3–4 feet tall, spreading 3–4 feet wide

Descriptive Features: A statuesque native perennial and Perennial Plant Association 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year, prized for bringing the presence of a small shrub to the perennial border while remaining fully herbaceous. Forms a large, rounded, sturdy clump of blue-green, clover-like compound foliage on strong, upright stems that requires no staking despite its substantial size. In late spring to early summer, tall spikes of showy, indigo-blue, pea-like flowers rise above the foliage in a lupine-like display, drawing bumblebees and other native pollinators. Blooms give way to inflated, charcoal-black seed pods that rattle in the wind and add striking architectural and textural interest through fall and winter — also prized in dried arrangements. Once used by Native Americans and early settlers as a substitute source for blue dye, hence its common name. Develops an extensive, deep taproot that makes mature plants extremely drought-tolerant and long-lived, but also means the plant resents transplanting or division once established, and is notoriously slow to reach full size — often taking three or more years to hit its stride. Deer- and rabbit-resistant thanks to mildly toxic foliage, and virtually pest- and disease-free. An excellent choice as a long-lived specimen, back-of-border anchor, prairie or meadow planting, or cut flower and dried pod source in full sun to light shade.