Baptisia, also commonly known as False Indigo, is a North American prairie native that acts as a shrub-like specimen in the garden. It is extremely hardy, drought tolerant, deer & rabbit resistant, long-lived, disease resistant, and attractive throughout the growing season.

There are several species of Baptisia that are native to the prairielands of the central United States. Many of the modern cultivars derive from crosses between the native species, allowing for selection of the most desirable garden traits. The native parentage brings with it supreme hardiness and drought tolerance. Adapted to life on the windswept prairie, these plants develop a tap root that allows them to survive summer drought and frigid winter temperatures. Plant your Baptisia where you want it to stay – its deep, sturdy root structure makes transplanting of mature specimens extremely challenging.

Baptisia is a member of the Pea Family (Fabaceae) and produces showy upright racemes of pea-like flowers in late spring/early summer. The flowers are followed by green pea-like seed pods that mature to chocolate brown and can be left on the plant for winter interest. Flower colors include blue, cream, yellow, purple, and bicolor. Selective breeding has yielded plants that produce abundant showy flowers at a young age. Other garden performance improvements attained through careful selection include excellent form and more compact habit. Baptisia makes a stunning specimen plant for the perennial border but is also effective in mass.

• Mature height: 24”-48”, depending on variety
• Mature spread: 24”-36”, depending on variety
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 3, very cold hardy
• Flowers: Spires of pea-like flowers in a range of colors. Exceptionally attractive in full bloom.
• Foliage: Clean, shrub-like presence in the garden throughout the growing season.
• Fruit: Green pea-like seedpods mature to chocolate brown. Can be left on the plant for winter interest.
• Light requirement: Full Sun
• Water Requirements: Drought tolerant.
• Maintenance: Low maintenance. Cut previous season’s growth to ground in late spring. Extremely long-lived perennial.
• Especially valuable for:
  • Specimen plant for perennial border
  • Drought tolerance
  • Deer & rabbit resistant
  • Shrub-like presence
  • Native parentage
  • Attractive to native pollinators

By Zannah Crowe