blue wild indigo
Baptisia australis
RHS AGM 1993, Perennial Plant of the Year 2010; MBG Plant of Merit 2004
USDA zones4 to 9
SunHandles full sun to partial shade
WaterHandles dry to wet soil
Size3 to 4 feet tall3 to 4 feet wide
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, winter
- Bloom color
- Indigo blue
- Foliage color
- Blue
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis) is a perennial for borders, pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, and meadows. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes full sun to part shade and dry to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Blue-purple, pea-like flowers form dense, upright spikes on a bushy plant. In late fall the plant turns silvery-gray and may break off at ground level and tumble in the wind. Deer and rabbits usually look elsewhere for a meal.
Pairs well with Blue star, Big bluestem, and Blue-eyed grass.
Native range
North America, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.