Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight'
- Phonetic Spelling
- bap-TEE-zee-uh
- Description
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'Carolina Moonlight' is a hybrid false indigo in the bean family (Fabaceae). It was found as a random seedling at the NC Botanical Garden and introduced in 2002. Parentage is B. sphaerocarpa x B.alba. The genus name Baptisia comes from the Greek word bapto meaning "to dye".
This easy-to-grow plant has a long tap root so choose your location carefully as it will not transplant well. Grow in average well-drained acidic soil in full sun to partial shade but does best in full sun. This plant tolerates poor soils and drought once established. It may take 2-3 years to mature and start blooming. It will grow 3-4 feet tall with a similar spread.
'Carolina Moonlight' has blue-green foliage that stays attractive all year. The showy yellow spring flowers are held well above the foliage in clusters on 18-inch stems.
Use 'Carolina Moonlight' in the border, as a specimen, in small groups or in naturalized settings.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Moths will eat the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Baptisia
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies to the flowers and some moth larvae will eat the foliage
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Hasn't produced fruit as of yet
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 2-lipped yellow pea-like flowers appear in spring on 18-inch racemes that are held above the foliage
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Trifolate blue-green foliage with 2-inch-long leaflets
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are a gray-green and smooth
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
