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.