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White Indigo Baptisia alba

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

Wild white indigo is a herbaceous perennial plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) native to eastern and central United States. Baptisia means “to dye,” referring to some species in this genus being used as a dye. The species name alba means “white,” referring to the white flowers.

This large clump-forming long-lived plant will grow 2-6 feet and up to 4 feet wide. It does not transplant well due to deep roots so choose your sites well. It prefers full sun to light shade in acidic sandy or rocky soil but will tolerate clay soil. It may take young plants up to 3 years to produce flowers. They can be propagated by seed, stem or root cuttings. As with all plants in the pea family, this plant will fix nitrogen in the soil.

In spring purple stems appear above the blue-gray foliage with up to 18 inches long spikes of white to cream-colored pea-shaped flowers. They are followed by 1-2 inch seed puffy seed pods that ripen from green to black. The trifoliate foliage stays attractive all season long and turns nearly black in fall. In winter the stems will break off and be blown like tumbleweed if not pruned.

Use this plant in the back of the border, as a specimen, in a rain garden, a pollinator/native garden or in naturalized areas.

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No significant problems

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

More information on Baptisia.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#full sun tolerant#rain garden#drought tolerant#white flowers#yellow flowers#clover leaves#native perennial#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#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#rain garden#drought tolerant#white flowers#yellow flowers#clover leaves#native perennial#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#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
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South Eastern U.S.A
    Wildlife Value:
    Its flowers are attractive to butterflies and bumble bees. 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. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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 Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    The pod is 1.75-inch long and is green maturing to black. They contain many seeds.
  • 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
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flowers appear in clusters on 12-18 inch stems and are pea-shaped flowers in white to cream colors. Blooms in spring May to June
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The trifoliate compound leaves are blue-green to gray-green in color. Each leaflet is pointed at each end and is ovate to oblanceolate in shape. They are up to 2 inches long and 3/4 inches wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The central and side stems are smooth, round and green to purple in color
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    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