how do you grow baptisia

BAPTISIA CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Full Answer

How do you take care of a Baptisia plant?

Baptisia grow best in full sun but will tolerate a little shade. The plants often need support when grown in partial shade because the stems are not as strong. Well-drained soil that is on the dryer side is best. Established plants are drought tolerant. Soil pH should be neutral to slightly acidic. It is not necessary to fertilize these plants.

How do you plant Baptisia seeds?

Check the seeds for tiny holes – there’s a tiny weevil that attacks the seeds but not the plant – and discard any that are damaged. These seeds can be sown directly, planting them a quarter-inch (0.5 cm.) deep, and will usually germinate in about two weeks. If fresh seed is unavailable, how to plant Baptisia seed becomes a little more complicated.

Are there special tricks to germinate Baptisia?

Are there special tricks to germinating baptisia? Answer: Yes, you can collect and sow the seeds of your wild or false blue indigo ( Baptisia australis ), though propagating this beautiful, blue-flowered perennial from seed can take patience.

How long does it take for Baptisia to grow?

A fully mature plant can produce a hundred of these glorious spikes. Like many prairie plants, Baptisia takes some time to establish its deep root system before taking off, so the first of false indigos growing tips would be to have patience. It can take up to three years for your seeds or seedlings to produce flowers.

Will Baptisia spread?

Once planted, Baptisia plants don't like to be moved. Their roots can grow up to 12 feet (3.5 meters) deep and a single clump can expand to 3 or 4 feet (1 m.) wide.

How long does it take to grow Baptisia?

It can take four to six weeks for them to form roots and usually two or three years before they are large enough to flower. Do deer eat them? Baptisia are resistant to deer browsing.

Does Baptisia come back every year?

“Perennials” are plants that come back every year… at least in theory. In reality, some perennials are short-lived and only come back for a few years.

Does Baptisia like sun or shade?

Full sunMost baptisias prefer and grow best in deep, rich, moist but well-drained soil. Once established, however, they are quite drought tolerant, due to their very deep root system. Full sun is preferred, but baptisias will tolerate light shade. However, in shade they may grow leggy and bloom less profusely.

When should I plant Baptisia?

Baptisia spp. Plant during fall in the South, or during spring in cooler climates. Wild indigos should get at least 1 inch of water a week in their first season. Cold hardiness varies by species, but all will grow in USDA.

Do you cut down Baptisia in the fall?

The stems should be cut back to the ground in late fall, winter, or early spring before new shoots appear. Foot-long, lupine-like spires of blue, pealike flowers are produced in mid to late spring, about a month after the leaves emerge.

How do you winterize Baptisia?

Baptisia can simply be trimmed to take off the old flowers and seedpods or you can take it nearly to the ground. For rejuvenation false indigo pruning, cut the plant to within 6 inches (15 cm.) of the ground in late winter to early spring. The plant will quickly grow to surpass its former height.

What can I plant next to Baptisia?

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS: Try pairing with Asclepias tuberosa, Echinacea purpurea, Eryngium yuccifolium, Rudbeckia hirta, Solidago speciosa, and Sorghastrum nutans. Baptisia tinctoria has similar flowers and foliage and can be substituted if needed.

How do you take care of Baptisia?

Light/Watering: Plants are at their best in full sun. They will tolerate some shade, but will then need staking. These plants are very drought-tolerant once established although evenly moist soil is always in a plant's best interest. Fertilizer/Soil and pH: Baptisia prefers slightly acidic soils, so do not add lime.

How big does Baptisia get?

Maturing to 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall, they'll take up about the same amount of space as a small shrub or large clump of daisies in your garden. You'll love their vividly colored flower spikes in late spring to early summer.

Can Baptisia be divided?

Baptisia actively grow roots and recover quickly when the soil has warmed up in late spring. If given the choice, I prefer to move them just after they finish flowering. DIVIDE –Early spring or just after flowering so plants have the rest of the growing season to recover.

Do deer eat Baptisia plants?

Baptisia, also known as wild indigo or false indigo, is a fantastic group of plants that deserves greater garden use. Not only does the floral display rival the beauty of any other spring bloom, but the plants are deer-resistant and require almost no maintenance.

How fast does false indigo grow?

When started from nursery plants, false Indigo takes only about a year to reach its full height, but plants started from seed can take three to four years to flower. False indigo is generally planted in spring after the danger of frost has passed.

What can I plant next to Baptisia?

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS: Try pairing with Asclepias tuberosa, Echinacea purpurea, Eryngium yuccifolium, Rudbeckia hirta, Solidago speciosa, and Sorghastrum nutans. Baptisia tinctoria has similar flowers and foliage and can be substituted if needed.

Can Baptisia be divided?

Baptisia actively grow roots and recover quickly when the soil has warmed up in late spring. If given the choice, I prefer to move them just after they finish flowering. DIVIDE –Early spring or just after flowering so plants have the rest of the growing season to recover.

How do you winterize Baptisia?

Baptisia can simply be trimmed to take off the old flowers and seedpods or you can take it nearly to the ground. For rejuvenation false indigo pruning, cut the plant to within 6 inches (15 cm.) of the ground in late winter to early spring. The plant will quickly grow to surpass its former height.

What is Baptisia?

Baptisia ( Baptisia australis) is a flowering perennial plant that is a member of the legume family which includes peas and beans. It is native to Eastern and Central North America. Another name for baptisia is false indigo because its flowers produce a blue dye that was once used as a cheap alternative to true indigo ( Indigofera tinctoria ), an Asian plant that was more expensive.

What do rattle bush seeds look like?

Also used in flower arranging are the seed pods which appear after the flowers. They grow to 2 – 3 inches and look like pea pods but turn dark as they ripen. The seeds inside rattle in the breeze resulting in other common names for baptisia: rattle bush and rattle weed.

What do lupines look like?

They are trifoliate meaning they grow in groups of three along the stem. The flowers appear in the late spring. They are a striking blue color and look a lot like pea flowers. They grow on racemes (long flower stalks) like lupines. Newer hybrids have flowers that are yellow or purple.

What do seed pods look like?

The seed pods look like pea pods.

How tall is a baptism plant?

Baptisia is hardy in zones 3 – 9. In the wild, it can be found in meadows and open woods and along streams. The plants are quite tall, 3 – 4 feet in height and 3 – 4 feet in width. The leaves are a lovely blue-green. They are trifoliate meaning they grow in groups of three along the stem. The flowers appear in the late spring.

How does baptism spread?

Baptisia spreads via underground rhizomes. Don’t let them get out of hand. They have long tap roots making them hard to dig up if you wish to remove plants that are overgrowing their place in your garden. In the colder parts of their range, the foliage dies in the fall.

Why is baptism difficult to divide?

Baptisia is difficult to divide because it has a long taproot. It is usually best to divide the plants when they are still young and their taproot is not as long. Division should be done in the spring as the new growth is starting.

Introduction

Theese tough, dependable, long-lived perenniaal make an impressive statement in the garden, growing as much as 3 to 4 feet tall. The most common species found in gardens baptisia, also known as blue wild indigo, has spires of blue flowers in late spring and early summer and was used by early American colonists as a dye plant.

About baptisias

Baptisias are native to the central and southeastern U.S. In spring and early summer, their clover-like foliage is topped by spires of pea-like blooms. Baptisias grow slowly at first, but after a few years forms an attractive, upright mound up to 4 feet across. A mass planting of baptisia in full bloom is a striking sight.

Choosing a site to grow baptisias

Baptisias do best in full sun and well-drained soil of average fertility. If planted in part shade they may need staking to prevent sprawling. Once established, they are reasonably drought tolerant.

Planting Instructions

Container plants can be set out any time during the growing season. Space most plants at least 3 feet apart. Mature plants can be 4 feet wide and resent disturbance, so give young plants plenty of space to grow into.

Ongoing Care

Baptisia forms a deep taproot, making it difficult to transplant, so choose the planting site carefully. Unlike many other perennials, baptisia clumps don't need dividing. Although it's possible to divide the deep, gnarly root mass, it's risky and you may end up damaging the plant so much that it can't recover.

What is the best perennial to plant in spring?

One of the greatest joys in life is watching the perennials in your garden emerge every spring. Baptisia, or false indigo, is one of those resilient native plants you can count on to bloom and thrive for decades. In addition to it being long lived, baptisia also provides a long season of interest, beginning in spring and lasting well into fall.

What is the name of the purple flower?

This progeny of B. australis and B. alba is named for its distinctive smokey violet flowers, enhanced by purple eyes and dusky charcoal stems. A prolific bloomer, bearing as many 50 densely packed flower spikes, it makes a stunning backdrop to yellow-flowering perennials such as coreopsis and Carolina false lupine ( Thermopsis villosa ).

How tall is a sage?

Height/spread: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. The model of the native species, with deep indigo-blue flowers on shrublike plants with attractive blue-green foliage. Plant it in the middle of a border along with peonies and irises, which bloom at the same time.

What color are charcoal flowers?

Charcoal stems carry cool lemon-yellow flowers followed by the decorative seed pods in fall. Blue-green foliage is formed in an upright vase-shaped mound. The contrasting colors deliver a pop of color and contrast along with an excellent floral display.

What is yellow false indigo?

Also called yellow false indigo, this showy cultivar is smothered with tall spikes of bold yellow flowers, held above a dense mound of foliage. Compact plants have a nice, full, bushy appearance.

How long does it take for a sage to bloom?

Typically 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the temperature. In cooler weather, bloom times may be longer.

What zone is a sage plant hardy in?

Typically hardy in zones 3-9 for wild species; 4-9 for cultivated hybrids.

How to trim dead flowers in summer?

Summer: Pinch off dead flowers if development of seedpods is not desired. Groom plants by removing yellowing or dead leaves. Plants can be cut back by one-third and shaped now for most attractive habit through the rest of the growing season.

How tall do peas grow?

These members of the Pea family have lupine-like flowers ideal for cutting and are very hardy to zone 3. They grow three to four feet tall and as wide, with lovely blue-green foliage that stays healthy all summer, providing a perfect backdrop for later blooming perennial companions.

When do baptisms bloom?

Companions: Baptisias bloom along with Siberian Irises and Peonies in late spring to early summer. Their attractive foliage makes them an asset even when they are not in flower.

Do you need lime for baptism?

Fertilizer/Soil and pH: Baptisia prefers slightly acidic soils, so do not add lime. Well-drained, deep, rich soil is best, although Baptisia does quite well in soils of low fertility. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer with supplemental summer applications, or use a slow-release form.

What color are wild indigo flowers?

I’d almost forgotten planting yellow wild indigo by the time it bloomed in my garden, so the drama of its acid-yellow blooms was a stunning surprise. The bold yellow blooms combine beautifully with the plant’s dense, yellow-green foliage. Pollinated flowers produce thick-walled, rounded seedpods that turn brown or black and become woody when dry. They are an identifying characteristic of the yellow wild indigo.

How big do wild indigos get?

Wild indigos do get large. A mature specimen might be 3 or 4 feet tall and wide, so they shouldn’t be planted in drifts. To me, they have the most impact when peppered singly through a perennial border, like repeating specimens. Wild indigos also look good in the middle of a perennial border; they can easily be used to anchor a whole planting.

What does an indigo look like?

When the spikes that held the flowers fill out with sturdy, attractive foliage, most wild indigos look like appealing, rounded shrubs.

How tall does Blue Wild Indigo grow?

B. australis. Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis) will grow to 4 feet tall. Blue wild indigo’s beauty and durability have been long appreciated by perennial gardeners, so it’s no surprise that this is the most commonly offered and grown member of the Baptisia genus.

How long does it take for an indigo to grow?

Wild indigos are very difficult to divide. They can be grown from cuttings, but are most easily grown from seed— though you’ll have to wait about three years before you get a flowering plant.

What color is best for peonies?

Blue wild indigo is a beautiful partner for peonies ( Paeonia spp.) of any color, which tend to bloom about the same time. This pairing makes for great color combinations and a wonderful contrast in texture of both flower and foliage. ‘Purple Smoke’ wild indigo (Baptisia X ‘Purple Smoke’) has purple-eyed flowers.

Where do wild indigos grow?

A small genus of less than 10 species grown primarily for their dramatic spring flowers, wild indigos are herbaceous perennials native to the central and southeastern United States . Mature plants are large and stately enough to use as small shrubs in mixed borders.

What is the name of the flower that has blue flowers?

Baptisia australis is a standout because of its striking blue flowers. There are also newer hybrids of Baptisia with yellow and purple flowers.

Why is false indigo called false indigo?

False Indigo ( Baptisia australis ), a native American beauty traces its name to the fact that Europeans used to pay Americans to grow this plant, for the dye they made from the blue flowers. True indigo was expensive and Baptisia, which made a similarly colored dye, grew like a weed.

What is the name of the false indigo?

Botanical Name. Baptisia australis. Common Names.

How big do baptismas get?

Baptisia grows like a small shrub, reaching four to five feet tall and three to four feet wide. You can leave the spent flowers and enjoy the seed heads.

What type of soil does False Indigo prefer?

False indigo prefers drier, well-draining soils. It is not particular about soil pH but does best in a soil that is neutral to slightly acidic.

How long does it take for false indigo to grow?

While False Indigo only takes about a year to reach its full height, plants started from seed do take three to four years to flower, however. After the spring late frost is the optimal time to transfer seedlings outside. False Indigo has an upright, shrubby form with trifoliate blue-green leaves and pea-like blossoms.

How to keep a sage plant from falling open?

Snuggling it between other plants will prevent the branches from falling open under the weight of the flowers and seed pods.