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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Baptisia alba Baptisia alba
Baptisia tinctoria Baptisia tinctoria
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis

Wild Indigo Baptisia

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Wild Indigo:

Phonetic Spelling
bap-TEE-zee-uh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Baptisia spp. is a perennial herb with alternate, 3-parted leaves, turning black upon drying. Flowers either on long-stalked clusters above the leaves or axillary. Blooms can be white, blue, yellow, or bicolored depending on the species or cultivar and are irregular and pea-shaped.

They are known for being very tough, long-lived plants that tolerate a variety of conditions from drought, poor soil, dry soil, and erosion.  They also are resistant to deer browsing and have few insect pests and diseases.

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

Propagation: cutting; seeds

 

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

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#white#yellow#poisonous#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#yellow flowers#native perennial#tough plant#spring flowers#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#long lifespan#poor soils tolerant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#dry soils tolerant#erosion tolerant
 
Baptisia spp. form
Baptisia spp. form Lucy Bradley
Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' form
Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue' form Lucy Bradley CC BY-NC 4.0
Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' early summer in Moore County
Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' early summer in Moore County Susan Strine CC BY 2.0
Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight'
Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' leaf bloom and leaf detail Debbie Roos CC BY 2.0
Baptisia australis with Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)
Baptisia australis with Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) Karen Hine CC0 1.0
Baptisia Twilite PrairieBlues
Baptisia Twilite PrairieBlues bloom detail Debbie Roos CC BY 2.0
young plant, spring, Warren County, NC
young plant, spring, Warren County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Baptisia
'Purple Smoke' Leaves Close-Up (Durham County,NC) Andrea Laine CC BY-NC 4.0
'Purple Towers', habit, Wake County, NC
'Purple Towers', habit, Wake County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY-NC 4.0
'Blue Towers' flower close-up, Warren County, NC
Blue Towers' flower close-up, Warren County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
habit, Crowder Park, Wake County, NC
habit, Crowder Park, Wake County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#white#yellow#poisonous#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#yellow flowers#native perennial#tough plant#spring flowers#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#long lifespan#poor soils tolerant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#dry soils tolerant#erosion tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Baptisia
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    E. Canada to Central & E. U.S.A
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bees and is a host plant for the ashgray blister beetle (adult version)
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer damage; tolerates drought, poor soils, dry soil, and erosion
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    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)
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is an inflated, stalked pod with several seeds. The seeds inside of the pod are yellow to brown.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Irregular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Flowers either on long-stalked clusters above the leaves or axillary. Flowers, having five petals each, stand up on a raceme or spike. Blooms are white, blue, purple-blue, or yellow and can be irregular and pea-shaped.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate 3-parted leaves, turning black upon drying. Leaves are entire, green, trifoliate, and can vary in shape from elliptical to obovate. Leaves seem to be in groups of 3 at the end of a stem.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    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: Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. All parts are poisonous.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Baptisin and cytisine
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems