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Baptisia australis

Growing Information

Plant Type: Perennial
Sunlight: Full sun, part shade
Soils: Acidic moist, well-drained, average
Bloom Time: Blue flowers in May, June
Size: 3-5 feet in height; 2-4 foot spread

In the legume family, also called Wild Blue Indigo and Blue False Indigo. Flowers are pea shaped. Foliage is bluish green. Drought and salt tolerant. Does well in the Cape’s poor soils. Dark seed pods are good for winter interest in the garden used in dried flower bouquets.

Garden Companions

Yellow Baptisia (Baptisia tinctoria), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Nature Benefits

• Attractive to butterflies, bees, and other insects.
• Is a larval host plant for a variety of butterflies including: Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Frosted Elfin, Eastern Tailed Blue, Hoary Edge, and Wild Indigo Duskywing.

Native Habitat

Occurs in forest edges, shady upland woods, and wetland edges.

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Photos