Don’t let its name fool you – the wonderful perennial Baptisia Australias isn’t from Australia – it is actually a great winter hardy perennial native to Southern Canada and the northern United States. A member of the pea family, Baptisia gets its name from the Greek word ‘baptisis,’ meaning “immerse, soak or dry” and refers to the indigo-blue pigment obtained from its leaves and often used for dyes. Also called ‘false indigo’ or ‘blue indigo,’ in addition to its typical sublime blue, pea-shaped flowers, growers have also introduced striking white and yellow flowered varieties.

In my opinion Baptisias acclaim as this years perennial of the year is long overdue. Extremely easy to grow, Baptisia also is amazingly disease and pest free, tolerates drought and poor soil, attracts butterflies and deters plant eating deer. Baptisia even fixes nitrogen in the soil, benefiting surrounding plants in any garden bed. Baptisia performs best in full sun, although it will tolerate some shade (although in too much shade it may require some simple staking).

Shrub-like, Baptisia grows three to four feet tall at maturity and features interesting clusters of small flowers in summer. Puffy seed pods emerge from spent flowers and turn charcoal black in fall, and if left up provide great interest in the winter months. Children uses to pick these seeds pods in the fall and use them for rattles, as the seed make a surprising amount of noise when rattled around in the pods. Great companion plants include Echinacea and penstemon.

baptisia australias 'False Indigo'

1 Comment

No Tags