![]() Like many prairie plants, Baptisia takes some time to establish its deep root system before taking off, so the first of false indigos growing tips would be to have patience. A fully mature plant can produce a hundred of these glorious spikes. Each of these racemes is covered with flowers and will bloom for about six weeks in spring or early summer. Leaves are trifoliate (three leaflets) and range in color from dark blue-green to light yellow-green and can become so dense as to give the plant a shrub-like appearance.įully mature plants can grow two and a half to three (0.5 to 1 m.) feet tall and produce racemes or flower spikes adding another 12 to 24 inches (30.5-61 cm.) to their height. Native to the prairies of southern North America, Baptisia plants grow well in almost any well-drained soil in USDA planting zones 5-9. There are also several hybrid cultivars on the market today. Members of the Fabaceae or pea family, false indigo flowers’ distinctive pea-like blossoms also come in white ( Baptisia alba) and yellow ( Baptisia tinctoria) as well as the more widely known blue ( Baptisia australis). Also known as false indigo, the flowers were once used by Native Americans and early European settlers as a dye before true indigo became available. If the seed pods are left over winter, they will produce little seedlings, but they are easy to pull out.If you’re looking for a striking perennial that needs minimum care to produce maximum results, take a good look at Baptisia plants.Trimming foliage after bloom helps maintain a rounded plant appearance, but you will miss out on the attractive seed pods which are great to use in dried flower arrangements.Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as the seed is ripe or propagate by division in early spring. ![]() Great as a specimen plant or in small groups.
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