Baptisia australis
Blue Wild Indigo
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Blue Wild Indigo is a tall, bushy perennial with lupine-like, purple flowers, which bloom May-June. The flowers are borne in clusters at the top...
Description:
Blue Wild Indigo is a tall, bushy perennial with lupine-like, purple flowers, which bloom May-June. The flowers are borne in clusters at the top of tall stems, which extend above a mound of blue-green foliage. The flowers are followed by inflated seed pods, which turn black when ripe; loose seeds inside the pods make a rattling sound when shaken. The stems with the seed pods are used in dried floral arrangements. Traditionally, this plant was used to make a natural dye. It tolerates both drought and poor soils. Use Blue Wild Indigo as an accent plant to add vertical texture to the garden, or plant it in small groups in the back of borders. It can also be used in meadows and pollinator gardens.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: Blue False Indigo
Plant Type: Flower, Perennial
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Late Spring to Early Summer
Bloom Colors: Purple
Deer Resistance: High
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Butterflies
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Barrier Island/Coastal
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 3 - 5 ft
Spread: 3 - 4 ft
Growth Rate: Slow