Additional information
| Scientific Name | Baptisia australis |
|---|---|
| Height | 3-4' |
| Spread | 3-4' |
| Foliage | Bluish-green |
| Zone | 9-Mar |
Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Blue False Indigo is a native legume perennial that has many functions. It fixes nitrogen in the soil, makes a great addition to native seed mixes and is low maintenance (low watering, no fertilization or pesticides required and little pruning involved) which makes this plant able to grow in different scenarios (prairie to urban). The flowers are a purple, lupine-like racemens that attract pollinators and bloom May to June. The flowers then turn into inflated seed pods that turn a charcoal black. The seed pods are highly valued in dried floral arrangements. Blue False Indigo can tolerate rabbits, drought, erosion, clay soil, dry soil and shallow-rocky soil. The Native Americans used this plant for the blue dye it produces to dye their clothing and used the seed pods as children’s rattles. Can grow in full sun to partial shade conditions but does best in full sun.
NATIVE RANGE
Map courtesy of the USDA-NRCS Plant Database.
Photo courtesy of Bluestone Perennials.
