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Blue False Indigo

Baptisia australis

Pronunciation: bap-TIS-ee-uh aw-STRAL-iss
SKU #00219
3-9

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Short spikes of indigo-blue, pea-like flowers cover dense, blue green foliage. This showy, long-lived, bushy perennial is excellent for massing or at the back of the border. Attractive seed pods in early summer follow the flowers. Great cut flower.
LIGHT: Full sun, Partial sun
WATER: Drought tolerant once established
SIZE: Moderate grower to 4 ft. tall and wide.

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This Plant's Growing Zones: 3-9

USDA Cold Hardiness Zone Map

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Bloom TimeLate spring to early summer
Deciduous/EvergreenHerbaceous
Special FeaturesAttracts Butterflies, Waterwise, North American Native
Problems/SolutionsDeer Resistant
Growth RateModerate
Flower AttributesFlowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers
Landscape UseBorder
Design IdeasA big bushy plant to flesh out sparse border with rich blue flowers. Combines well with most American native species and blends well with grasses for meadow gardens. Grow as a cut flower. Particularly good massed for a large sea of delicious cool blue.
Flower ColorBlue
Foliage ColorBlue-green
Companion PlantsForsythia (Forsythia); Bee Balm (Monarda); Lilac (Syringa); Eastern Snowball, (Viburnum); Salvia (Salvia)
Care InstructionsFollow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Prune old flower heads to encourage more blossoms.
LoreNative Americans used this as a dye plant for blue coloring even though it was vastly inferior to the indigo of the tropics and trade.
Details
Bloom TimeLate spring to early summer
Deciduous/EvergreenHerbaceous
Special FeaturesAttracts Butterflies, Waterwise, North American Native
Problems/SolutionsDeer Resistant
Growth RateModerate
Flower AttributesFlowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers
Style
Landscape UseBorder
Design IdeasA big bushy plant to flesh out sparse border with rich blue flowers. Combines well with most American native species and blends well with grasses for meadow gardens. Grow as a cut flower. Particularly good massed for a large sea of delicious cool blue.
Flower ColorBlue
Foliage ColorBlue-green
Companion PlantsForsythia (Forsythia); Bee Balm (Monarda); Lilac (Syringa); Eastern Snowball, (Viburnum); Salvia (Salvia)
Care
Care InstructionsFollow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Prune old flower heads to encourage more blossoms.
History
LoreNative Americans used this as a dye plant for blue coloring even though it was vastly inferior to the indigo of the tropics and trade.

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About Us

We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly

100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr.
in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.

We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly 100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.