White Wild Indigo Baptisia alba
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- bap-TEE-sha AL-ba
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
