Baptisia australis - Wild Indigo
DESCRIPTION
Wild IndigoBaptisia australis
Tall blue spikes of flowers resemble racemes of lupines in May and early June. Charcoal black seedpods follow and are valued in dried flower arrangements. Plant them in cottage gardens, prairie gardens and meadows. Baptisia takes some time to get established so have patience. They are worth the wait. Blue Indigo is a native host plant for the following butterflies - Wild Indigo Duskywing, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Frosted Elfin, Hoary Edge.
BENEFITS
- Show-stopping flower display in early summer
- Easy to grow in just about any sunny site
- Drought tolerant once established
- Host plant for many varieties of butterflies
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Found in open woods, river banks and sandy floodplains from New York to Nebraska to Georgia.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
INTERESTING FACTS
Plant juice turns purple on exposure and is a fair substitute for true indigo in making blue dye.
GROWING 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 taproot contributes to drought tolerance, but is not conducive to transplanting. Move it immediately following flowering and water well if you must move it.