Baptisia

( bap - TIZ - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Baptisia, commonly called False Indigo, False Lupine, or Wild Indigo, is a genus of perennial flowering plants that require full sun and moderate water to perform well. Native to the southern and eastern areas of the United States, these plants have taproots that allow them to pull water from deep in the ground, allowing them to survive difficult conditions like drought and sandy soils with ease. Leaves are blue-green and blooms in late spring or early summer are sweet-pea shaped and can be purple, yellow, cream, or white. Flowers are followed by seedpods. Remove spent flowers to encourage a repeat bloom. These flowers are great for border garden beds, and will naturally increase in size, but do not need dividing. They are also great for meadow plantings with ornamental grasses or when planted amongst roses. Take care when planting False Indigo in your garden, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets.

Baptisia species and varietAls

The genus Baptisia includes just under 30 species and is a member of the plant family Fabaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek word for the verb 'to dye' (bapto). False Indigo grows well in zones 1-24 (for more information, see the species descriptions below. ​​To find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

​Baptisia alba (White False Indigo, White Wild Indigo)
This is an upright plant with a bushy habit, growing to 2-3 feet tall and just as wide. Stems are smokey-grey and flowers are white, blooming spring through summertime. These flowers are native to central and eastern North American open woodlands, prairies, and grasslands. There are two varietals, Baptisia alba alba, and Baptisia alba macrophylla.

Baptisia arachnifera (Hairy Rattleweed, Cobwebby Wild Indigo, Hairy Wild Indigo, Hairy False Indigo)
This endangered species is native to Georgia, where between 95 and 99 percent of its range has been destroyed due to plantation farming in the area. The plant is covered in thick, cobwebby hairs and has heart-shaped blue-green leaves. Flowers are yellow.
Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo, Blue Wild Indigo, Indigo Weed, Rattleweed, Rattlebush, Horsefly Weed)
This plant has a bit of a spreading habit, and reaches 3-5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Flowers are deep blue. Blue False Indigo is native to the midwestern United States where it likes to grow along forest edges and on stream banks. Many hybrids and cultivars are derived from this species, including those listed below.

Baptisia bracteata (Longbract Wild Indigo, Pains Wild Indigo, Cream False Indigo, Cream Wild Indigo)
These early-blooming flowers open in March, and have flower clusters that hang close to the ground or laying on the ground. Blooms are white to cream-yellow. 
Baptisia spp​. Hybrids and Cultivars
The following varieties were bred for their habit, size, or beautiful flower color. Below is just a sampling of all of the different cultivars available at nurseries.
'American Goldfinch'
'Aspiring'
'Blonde Bombshell'
'Blue Bubbly'
'Blue Bunchkin'
'Blue Candelabra'
'Blue Towers'
'Blueberry Sundae'
'Butterball'
'Cherries Jubilee'
'Cherry Pie'
'Cinnamon Candles'
'Dark Chocolate'
'Darklight'
'Grape Taffy'
'Lemon Meringue'
'Lighthouse'
'Lightning Rods'
'Lunar Eclipse'
'Periwinkle Popsicle'
'Pink Lemonade'
'Pink Truffles'
'Purple Reign'
'Royal Candles'
'Sparkling Sapphires'
'Vanilla Cream'
'White Gold'

Baptisia lanceolata (Gopherweed)
This species is native Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and reaches about 3 feet tall at maturity. It grows naturally in sandhill areas and piney woodlands. Flowers are pea-shaped and bright yellow. There are two varieties;  Baptisia lanceolata elliptica, and Baptisia lanceolata lanceolata.

Baptisia nuttalliana (Nuttall's Wild Indigo)
This species is native to the southern-central United States, and has bright yellow flowers. 

Baptisia perfoliata (Catbells)
Native to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, this species reaches 3 feet tall at maturity, and produces yellow flowers that bloom in July and August.

Baptisia sphaerocarpa (Yellow Wild Indigo)
As its common name suggests, this species produces bright yellow stalks of pea flowers. Yellow Wild Indigo is native to the southeastern United States.

Baptisia tinctoria (Yellow False Indigo, Wild Indigo, Horseflyweed)
This species is native to eastern North America, where it grows in dry meadow and open woodland environments. These bushy plants reach between 2 and 3 feet tall, and yellow flowers bloom on spikes that rise above the foliage. In Martha's Vineyard, these plants are common tumbleweeds, disconnecting from their root in fall and rolling around the area. 

Caring for Baptisia

Plant Baptisia in an area of the garden where it will be able to stay for quite a while - some plants can live for over 10 years, and do not transplant well. Space plants between 3-4 feet apart (though this depends on the species and cultivar grown) for best performance and airflow. They do well in full sun exposure; between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day is ideal for the best blooms. They will grow in partial shade, but will not flower as profusely and can become a bit leggy if not trimmed back frequently. Soil should be well-draining;  If local soils are particularly clayey or poor in nutrients, amend the planting site with plenty of organic compost and/or sand before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of plants, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature.

Water new plantings regularly as they develop a strong root system. Mature plants are considered drought tolerant, and will need supplemental waterings only during periods of drought. Prune these plants after they are done blooming in the middle of summer. Shear or cut plants back by about half to trigger new growth and flowering to begin. Fertilize Baptisia plants yearly in early springtime using organic compost, pulling back mulch before applying. Work the compost into the soil, water, and then replace mulch around the base of the plant. These plants do not need any additional fertilizing. It is a generally hardy plant, but will die back in the first hard frost of the year. Attractive seed pods can add winter interest to the garden, however, if plants are not cut back.

Propagation

Baptisia plants can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your False Indigo, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Baptisia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot, ensuring that at least one node is below the soil surface. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about eight weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new False Indigo.

Propagating Baptisia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Baptisia plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. Fresh seeds are best sown right away, before they develop too hard of a seed coat. 
  3. Seeds that are not used fresh will need to undergo some special treatments in order to germinate. First, fill a plastic back or other sealable container with moist sand or peat moss, and place the seeds within the medium in the bag. Seal the bag and place it in a cool, dark space (a refrigerator works well) for between 6 and 12 weeks' time. After this period has passed, remove the seeds and scarify them using sandpaper or a knife. Do this with as many seeds as you can; they will probably not all sow, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting shrub you want. Next, place your seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom, and non-viable seeds will float to the top. You can discard any seeds that float.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination can take anywhere between 6 and 30 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Baptisia seed pods can add winter interest to the garden if left on the plants.
Baptisia seeds.

Problems and Pests

Baptisia plants are typically pest and disease resistant, though they can suffer from the following common garden issues from time to time:
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Caterpillars
  • Root Rot
For more information on these problems, including how to solve them, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

Many forms of Baptisia are interplanted in this pollinator garden.
Here, Baptisia is planted alongside Valeriana.
Irises and Baptisia bring shades of blue to this front yard bed.

Videos

Learn all about growing these beautiful landscape flowers.
These low-maintenance perennials are pollinator superstars.
Baptisia is featured in this video by Garden Answer.
Pink Lemonade Baptisia has beautiful yellow and pink flowers.

Resources

Baptisia (Wild or False Indigo)
Grow and Care for Baptisia Plants
How to Grow and Care for False Indigo
Wikipedia: Baptisia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 188, Baptisia (False Indigo, Wild Indigo)
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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