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White False Indigo Baptisia alba

Phonetic Spelling
bap-TEE-sha AL-ba
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Grown in full sun or partial shade, White Wild Indigo is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 2 to 4 feet tall (though generally only 3 feet tall). The leaves are alternate and divided into three leaflets. The dark blue-gray stems contrast with the white flowers. The herb produces nodding pods. This plant’s form is generally erect, open, and shrubby, but you may find it to have a clumping habit (if it has been growing for a while): this clumping habit includes strong roots. However, this plant takes a while to grow (also, growing this plant from a seed is very challenging).

To maintain this plant to be in a round shape, you can prune (but not until after the flowers are done blooming): be aware though that if you do this, the seed pods will not form, which some people consider of ornamental interest. 

This plant is tolerant and resistant to many things as well as does not have a major disease or insect problems. 

Seasons of Interest: 

  Blooms: Spring/ early summer             Nut/Fruit/Seed:  Late summer/fall

Found in: Forest or natural areas in woodland borders and open woods; landscape in flower gardens as native, herbaceous perennials

VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum 

More information on Baptisia.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#yellow flowers#clover leaves#native perennials#blue flowers#tough plant#low maintenance#spring flowers#erosion control#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#deer resistant#cream flowers#blue-green leaves#ornamentals#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#dried arrangements#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#flowers early summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#Wild Indigo Duskywing#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#zarucco duskywing butterfly#long lived#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#yellow flowers#clover leaves#native perennials#blue flowers#tough plant#low maintenance#spring flowers#erosion control#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#deer resistant#cream flowers#blue-green leaves#ornamentals#herbaceous perennial#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#dried arrangements#poor soils tolerant#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#flowers early summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#Wild Indigo Duskywing#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#zarucco duskywing butterfly#long lived#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Baptisia
    Species:
    alba
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South Eastern U.S.A
    Wildlife Value:
    ts flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insects. This plant is a larval host plant for Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco) and Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae).
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer damage; tolerates drought, poor soils, dry soil, and erosion
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Puffy bean pod. Displays from June to October. After the flowers are done blooming, 1.75-inch seed pods arrive (eventually will be brown or black when they are ripe). Dried flower arrangements and ornamental interest are seed in the seed pods/ stems holding these inflated seed pods. The seed pods come around late summer and fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Irregular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White spring flowers are shaped like peas, only about 0.5 inches long, and may have colors splotched on the petals as if painted on. They are grouped together with the raceme going up to 12 inches tall. The flower stems are quite dark. They bloom from May to June. This plant flowers either on long-stalked clusters above the leaves or axillary. This plant blooms in white, creamy white, blue, or yellow and can be irregular and pea-shaped. After the flowers are done blooming, 1.75-inch seed pods arrive (eventually will be brown or black when they are ripe). Dried flower arrangements and ornamental interest are seed in the seed pods/ stems holding these inflated seed pods.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Trifoliate leaves, below the flower stems, look like clovers and are a color mixture of blue and green: its leaflets are 1-2 inches long. This plant is a perennial herb with alternate, 3-parted leaves, turning black upon drying.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    This plant has spreading, slender branches. Stems may be blue/gray or a very dark gray. Dried flower arrangements and ornamental interest are seed in the seed pods/ stems holding these inflated seed pods.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Insect Pests
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    THIS PLANT CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Poisonous through ingestion. All parts are poisonous. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Baptisin and cytisine
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems