Family: Papilionaceae
Common Name: False Indigo, Wild Indigo

Native to the drier regions of North America, these hardy, herbaceous perennials are quite similar to lupins. They are very useful plants as they provide masses of colour for the garden. Being legumes, they can enrich the soil.

Species

B. australis is a bushy plant, with deep sage green leaves and indigo blue early summer flowers. It grows to 1.5 m (5 ft).

B. bracteata grows to 40 cm (16 in) and has cream summer flowers.

B. leucantha has white summer flowers and grows to 1 m (3 ft).

B. perfoliata has yellow flowers in autumn and also grows to 1 m (3 ft).

B. tinctoria has yellow flowers in summer and can be used as a dye plant as a substitute for the true indigo, Indigofera tinctoria. It grows to 1 m (3 ft).

Cultivation

Baptisia should be planted in a sandy loam, enriched with compost, in a sunny, well-drained position amongst other herbaceous plants. Propagate from seed sown in winter or spring, or by division in early spring. Little fertilizer is needed for leguminous plants but a complete plant food may be applied lightly in spring.

Climate

Zone 6 and above.