Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a native wildflower of North America's eastern and midwestern regions. Thrives in UDSA zones 3-9.
In June and July, Wild Indigo produces beautiful, pea-like blue-purple flowers that bloom on spikes reaching 12-24 inches. A mature plant can have as many as 100 spikes in full bloom, making it an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements. The attractive foliage also enhances bouquets. Additionally, the nectar and pollen from Wild Indigo attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, with bees serving as their primary pollinator.
Blue Wild Indigo also acts as a host plant for several species, including the wild indigo duskywing, eastern tailed-blue, orange sulphur, clouded sulphur, frosted elfin, and hoary edge.
This low-maintenance plant prefers full sun to part shade and reaches a mature height and spread of 2-4 feet. It thrives in rich soil or clay that is dry, well-drained, and moist, demonstrating good drought tolerance and making it adaptable to various conditions. Its resilience and ease of care make it a perfect choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
The leaves consist of three alternate leaflets that can vary in shape from slender and oblong to almost rounded or oval. The foliage color ranges from blue-green to yellow-green and turns black in the fall.
The seed pods are charcoal black, bean-shaped, and measure 1-3 inches long. Blue Wild Indigo has an extensive root system featuring a deep, branched taproot that can extend up to 12 feet. Wild Indigo is a long-lived, bushy, robust perennial.
Companion plants for Wild Indigo include peonies, roses, bearded iris, black-eyed susans, and sneezeweed.
Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a native wildflower of North America's eastern and midwestern regions. Thrives in UDSA zones 3-9.
In June and July, Wild Indigo produces beautiful, pea-like blue-purple flowers that bloom on spikes reaching 12-24 inches. A mature plant can have as many as 100 spikes in full bloom, making it an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements. The attractive foliage also enhances bouquets. Additionally, the nectar and pollen from Wild Indigo attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, with bees serving as their primary pollinator.
Blue Wild Indigo also acts as a host plant for several species, including the wild indigo duskywing, eastern tailed-blue, orange sulphur, clouded sulphur, frosted elfin, and hoary edge.
This low-maintenance plant prefers full sun to part shade and reaches a mature height and spread of 2-4 feet. It thrives in rich soil or clay that is dry, well-drained, and moist, demonstrating good drought tolerance and making it adaptable to various conditions. Its resilience and ease of care make it a perfect choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
The leaves consist of three alternate leaflets that can vary in shape from slender and oblong to almost rounded or oval. The foliage color ranges from blue-green to yellow-green and turns black in the fall.
The seed pods are charcoal black, bean-shaped, and measure 1-3 inches long. Blue Wild Indigo has an extensive root system featuring a deep, branched taproot that can extend up to 12 feet. Wild Indigo is a long-lived, bushy, robust perennial.
Companion plants for Wild Indigo include peonies, roses, bearded iris, black-eyed susans, and sneezeweed.
