Baptisia australis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- bap-TEE-sha aw-STRAL-iss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Baptisia australis, commonly called blue false indigo, is an upright perennial which typically grows 3-4' tall and occurs in rich woods, thickets and along streambanks from Pennsylvania south to North Carolina and Tennessee.
Where to Plant: It grows best in full sun to part shade but tends to get a little floppy when it doesn’t get a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. It forms tall clumps which are especially attractive planted next to wooden fences. The bright, indigo blue flowers are attractive when combined with yellow or white flowering perennials. Wild Blue Indigo is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. However, it does best in full sun. Over time, plants develop slowly expanding clumps with deep and extensive root systems and should not be disturbed once established. They may be grown from seed but takes several years to yellow-flowered.
Found in : Forest or natural areas in woodland borders and open woods; landscape in flower gardens as native, herbaceous perennials
Another plant option: B. tinctoria, a yellow-flowered species of Baptisia, is also native to the eastern USA and grows well in warm, sunny gardens.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Spring Nut/Fruit/Seed: Late summer
Pruning Tips: Plants take on more of a shrubby appearance and tend to open up after bloom. Trimming or shearing foliage after bloom helps maintain rounded plant appearance and obviates a possible need for staking, but eliminates the developing seed pods which are so attractive.
Propagation Tips: Seed sown when fresh in mid-summer. The best way to propagate this plant is to collect seeds in late summer as soon as they mature and sow them directly where you want them to grow. Cuttings taken in April or May will also root fairly easily if they are taken while the growth is still soft.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Taller plants may need support, particularly when grown in part shade locations.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Baptisia
- Species:
- australis
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Seeds rattle around in the blackened pods which were once popularly used by children as rattles. The beautiful blue flowers have been used to make a blue dye comparable to the dye made from the flowers of indigo.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- PA south to NC and TN
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer. It is a host plant for the Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly. Its flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other insects. This plant is also a larval host plant for a variety of butterflies including: Orange sulphur, Clouded sulphur, Frosted elfin, Eastern tailed blue, Hoary edge, and Wild indigo duskywing.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought, poor soil, highly resistant to deer damage;
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
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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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Flowers give way to inflated seed pods (to 2.5" long) which turn charcoal black when ripe and have considerable ornamental interest in the late summer. Fruit is an inflated, stalked pod with several seeds. Stems with seed pods are valued additions to dried flower arrangements.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Wild Blue Indigo features purple/blue, lupine-like .75-in. flowers in erect racemes (to 12") atop flower spikes extending well above a foliage. Flowers are either on long-stalked clusters above the leaves or axillary. They bloom in white, blue, purple/blue, or yellow and are irregular and pea-shaped.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The Wild Blue Indigo features a mound of clover-like, trifoliate, bluish-green leaves (leaflets to 2" long). The alternate leaves have a smooth margin (entire). This perennial herb has 3-parted leaves, turning black upon drying.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems with seed pods are valued additions to dried flower arrangements.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- 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: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Baptisin and cytisine
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
- Baptisia australis is often confused with:
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Lupinus
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
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Baptisia tinctoria
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Baptisia alba
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Monarda didyma
