PlantFiles: False Indigo, Blue Wild Indigo
Baptisia australis

Although I too had heard that it was not advisable to move this plant due to its tap root I was able to successfully move it after it had been growing at least 4-5 years. Actually I hired two young men to dig very deeply and take a very large root ball with it. We replanted it immediately and it has done very well. That was about 8 years ago and it continues to do well with minimum or no care. I do cut it back to the ground in early spring.

We moved into a rental and this large shrub like plant was growing there. Very unusual, but beautiful! Nobody knew what it was. We moved two years later and took a cutting with us. That was two years ago, and it it thriving. We have clay soil and the plant is in a morning sun only location. It didn't bloom last year, but is doing so this year. It has about 12 stalks and is about three feet high now. The original plant that we took a clipping from was about five feet high. Just wanted to let everyone know that you can grow this plant from cuttings.

Very pretty. Adds winter interest, but also self seeds. Resents transplanting.

Blooms late May to early June in my garden.

Definitely need more light - I have two - one is too new to judge yet, and the other one is in more shade - partial from the look of the things. It makes healthy foliages and develops into a large clump but the flowers are fewer, shorter and more "shy" - almost hidden in the foliages. Very touchy about transportation so it's better to get new plants than to transport old speciments. I just enjoy the foliages since that speciment is over 6 years old now while the trees to the south of it have grown taller, blocking the sun and good sunny locations in my yard is hard to come by.

I, too, made the mistake of planting Baptisia in a shady area, and in my zone 5 garden, it's just now starting to sprout again. Do I take the chance and try transplanting it now before it shoots up any further? Last year, it grew quite tall and spindly with just a few blooms. This will be the third year.

I have two plants growing next to my driveway. I noticed the one at the bottom, nearest the street had been stripped of the seed pods while still green. We have deer across the street in a wooded area. I believe they ate the seed pods leaving just the naked stem which carried them.
Another plant to protect from deer if that is possible.

I made a mistake and planted this potentially beautiful plant in a mostly shady spot, and while the foliage looks great, healthy and tall it has yet to produce more than one bloom. Last month I observed a single lovely blue bloom and no more- it was a tease. This is the second year it has been in my garden, so perhaps it's not blooming because it's getting more established. I have a feeling it's the shade though, and I hear this plant doesn't transplant well. It has doubled in size since I first planted it in my garden.

From what I've seen in pictures, Baptisia is absolutely lovely with blooms that look like sweet pea or lupine blossoms, and I love both sweet peas and lupines but neither grow well for me here in NC so I thought I'd give Baptisia a try. I'm going to attempt a transplant before next spring- wish me luck!

False Indigo, Blue Wild Indigo Baptisia australis is Native to Texas and other States.

I purchased this plant from the historic gardens of America's original plantsman, John Bartram, in Philadelphia. I agree, it does take a year or two before it flowers, but it is well worth the wait. It produces beautiful blue flowers, the seed pods look wonderful when they mature and the plant itself stays attractive all summer long.

We also love this plant and were pleasantly surprised when an anole resting on a leaf changed to the same blue-green color.

This plant does well in full sun. I have 2 large plants and have had them for at least 4 or 5 years. I was able to thin them out and give them to friends with success. We really like the flowers and the color of the leaves. My plants have gotten to be alittle over 4ft tall. The seed pods are just now ready to be removed from the plant (July 26,2006). I have also had success in starting this plant via seeds. This is one of my favorites. Also makes a good cut flower.

I adore this plant. It's so easy! I started it from seed 3-4 years ago and this year I have my first flowers.

False indigo loves the sun and the heat and tolerates drought without batting an eye. I fed it with bloom fertilizer and I don't know if that made a difference or not.

Even when it wasn't flowering, the foliage was a beautiful blue-green and had that interesting leaf shape charactoristic of other plants that share it's genus.

My plants are growing very close together at the base and arch out, creating a beautiful fan of flowers.

I don't know if any one else has noticed but the flowers are fragrant, especially at night. Their delicious scent reminds me of the pineapple mandarin cake my mom makes.

Saw this plant at a botanical gardens and purchased one immediately, purchased a very small plant and it took two years to get any blooms, but the foliage was very pretty and never needed staking in full sun. When it bloomed it was gorgeous and well worth the wait.

A native flowering perennial of the eastern U. S. with an appetite for long term growth and expansion. Quite nice in any perennial garden, but give it lots of space since it can easily cover a square yard in 3-4 years. And it can grow to 4-5' in height. Late spring blooms add a verticle dimension to borders. Very hardy, drought tolerant plants have attractive foliage and flowers. There is also a natural hybrid of the species in white, and another in purple. I have it planted in three spots with one in light shade.

This is one of my favorite plants. I've had mine 3 yrs, it's now established and had many flowers which are beautiful but dont last more than 3 weeks here. I cut mine back when it starts to get colder-the leaves turn black from frost. The foliage is a beautiful silvery color. Very drought tolerant, and hummingbirds have started coming to mine!

Blue-green foliage is an attractive background plant. Showy seed pods are useful in dried arrangements. Used by the Native American as a purgative and anti-inflammatory. Studies have shown this plant to be an immune system booster.

In SE Michigan- this is a wonderful plant!! Although it took one entire season to establish itself. The root needs an entire season to tap itself (I read this). The second season it was absolutely gorgeous.. likes full sun and needs no care - in the fall - all vegetation dies off and blows away like a tumbleweed.
When blooming is over (summertime) it appears to be a shrub - people are always asking about this plant - very impressive.

Wonderful plant, now 5 years old. No pests, nice large lupine-like flowers (good for cutting). I cut back to the ground in early spring; also cut back about 1/3 after bloom. Floppy the first two years, but now does not need staking, although it gets only about 3-4 hours of morning sun. Highly recommend.

I leave the cane-like stems throughout winter for interest. Cut back to ground in 5b in early Spring before new shoots appear. Great foliage through summer, but flowers only for a short time here. Very little care required. I never water as they flop if they get too much!

Grows in Heat Zones 9-2.

Grows to about 4' high and 3' wide. The leaves are blue/green in color. Flowers are spikes and in my opinion resemble a lupine flower. Flower color is purple. Flowers early to mid summer. Best cultivated in full sun and well drained soil. Pretty drought tolerant. Propagate by seed or division. Hardy zones 3-10.