Native Plants from American Beauties
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Baptisia australis

Wild Indigo / Blue False Indigo

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Baptisia australis


If Filipendula is the queen of the prairie, Baptisia australis is king. This tough and long-lived perennial is a regal addition to the garden with its elegant spikes of blue flowers in early summer.

Benefits:

  • Show-stopping flower display in early summer
  • Easy to grow in just about any sunny site
  • Drought tolerant once established

Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips

Grow in full sun and average garden soil. Tolerant of most soils as long as they are not wet. Water well when planting and regularly for several weeks until it is established.

Site your Baptisia carefully as it will not recover quickly from being moved. A long tap root contributes to drought tolerance, but is not conducive to transplanting. Move it immediately following flowering and water well.


Height
3-4 Feet

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Spread
3-4 Feet


Native Range
Found in open woods, river banks and sandy floodplains from New York to Nebraska to Georgia.

Distribution Maps by State and County

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Native Trivia
As with many things that choose calm longevity over a frenzied yet fleeting life, Baptisias take their time to mature. ~ Bill Cullina, Growing and Propagating Wildflowers


USDA Hardiness Zone 4-8

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"Wild Indigos are not only beautiful, they are the only native food for the Wild Indigo Duskywing, a small butterfly found in the Eastern US."

Good Companions
'Husker Red' Tall White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Characteristics & Attributes

Plan Sub Group
Medium to Tall Perennials
Exposure
Sun
Soil
Wide soil tolerance
Saline or alkaline
Well-drained
Acidic
Soil Moisture Preference
Average
Dry
Attracts Wildlife
Butterflies
Bloom Time
Late Spring / Early Summer
Critter Resistance
Deer Resistant
Habitat Collection
Butterfly
Songbird
Native Habitat
Grassland
Foliage Color
Blue-green
Uses
Meadow
Drought tolerant
Naturalizes
Mass plant
Border
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