Bring the Outdoors Home

Blue False Indigo | Plant Profile

Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis) are medium sized perennials that are native stream or riverbanks in Pennsylvania. Tiny circular blue-purple flowers populate flower panicles or steeples. The flowers reach far above the body of the plant. The foliage is bushy with many medium green leaves that can resemble clovers. After flowering, seed pods appear that are brown or black and help to prolong the ornamental interest of Blue False Indigo.The seeds rattle around in the seed pods and used to be use as rattles by children.

Blue False Indigo prefers average fertility, dry to medium moisture, well drained soils in full sun to part shade. Full sun is ideal. They can be tolerance of drought and poor fertility soils.

Blue False Indigo are attractive in natural, prairie, or meadow settings. The flower panicles are attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects. The seed pods can be cut at the base of the stem and be displayed in dried flower arrangements

Description

Blue False Indigo Characteristics

Blue False Indigo are attractive and low maintenance wildflowers. When left to naturalize, they slowly spread via their deep and sprawling root systems. Because of these complicated root systems, it is best to leave the plant undisturbed once established and do not try to transplant. They can become shrubby and somewhat untidy if not pruned after flowering. However, this will result in the removal of the attractive seed pods.

These hardy natural perennials have few serious disease or insect issues that can be life threatening. If grown in part shade, it may be necessary to support to flower stems as they may fall under the weight of the flowers or seed pods.

USDA Climate Zone
Zones 3 - 9
Height
3.00 - 4.00'
Spread
3.00 - 4.00'
Bloom Time
May - June
Water
Dry - Medium
Sun
Full Sun - Part Shade
Maintenance
Low
Deer Resistant?
Yes