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Fabaceae
Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Protection and healing.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Baptisia
- Native to
- Central and Eastern United States
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 3-4 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Well-drained, average to poor
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 3-9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Native Americans and early settlers used the plant as a poor substitute for true indigo dye, hence 'false indigo'.
- Blue false indigo develops an enormous root system and can live for decades once established.
- The inflated black seed pods rattle in the wind during autumn and winter, earning the nickname 'rattleweed'.
- It is the primary host plant for the wild indigo duskywing butterfly.
- A mature clump can be 4 feet wide and resents being transplanted due to its deep taproot.
Color meanings
0
strength
1
renewal