Spiky plants, like iris, salvia, and tall alliums, complement both the color and the texture of Baptisia. The blue blossoms really bring out the chartreuse of Lady’s Mantle. Since it is a large plant and it only blooms once, be sure to put it somewhere in your garden where its foliage will continue to offer interest.
How do you take care of a Baptisia?
Baptisia Care Must-Knows. Plant false indigo in well-drained soil and full sun for the most impressive flower display. This perennial tolerates part shade, but can end up a floppy plant that requires staking for support. Once each plant gets established, it can withstand droughts without much supplemental watering thanks to a deep,...
How to plant a Baptisia plant?
When deciding how to plant baptisia for the best effect, remember that some garden plantings of these hardy perennials have been known to last for decades. Baptisia plants need plenty of sun and once established, are extremely drought tolerant.
Is Baptisia a legume?
Baptisia is a legume (plants in the Fabaceae family) and can convert nitrogen through the atmosphere with the help of naturally occurring root-colonizing bacteria that live on root nodules of legumes. This gives Baptisia an ecological advantage and helps them thrive in soil that is less than ideal.
Do baptisias need fertilizer?
Because they are legumes, baptisias supply their own fertilizer through the nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots (see All About Roots ). Baptisias don't normally require staking, but may need some support if they're grown in partial shade. If your plants tend to flop, secure them to a peony ring or other support in early spring.
What plants go well with Baptisia?
Plants that work well with Baptisia australis ''Shining bluestar (Amsonia illustris)Bluestar, Blue Dogbane (Amsonia tabernaemontana)Willow leaf Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana v. ... Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontani 'Grande')Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata)More items...
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 do you stop Baptisia from flopping?
Unfortunately, this unique feature is often missed because the weight of the seedpods causes the plant to flop. To rectify this issue, use peony cages to keep the stems supported and upright. Position the cage over the crown of the plant in early spring.
What grows well with indigo?
tinctoria and all indigo-bearing plants thrive on nitrogen. Fava beans, as well as other legumes, help to add nitrogen to the soil. We harvest the young fava leaves to eat as the plants grow.
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 back 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.
Does Baptisia need lots of water?
Keep a false indigo watered regularly for the first year, but after this, it will do well with about 1 inch of water every couple of weeks. Once established, Baptisia is relatively drought-tolerant. This is a native wildflower, and in most regions, it does fine with whatever rainfall nature provides.
How fast does Baptisia grow?
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.
How do you keep Baptisia small?
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.
How big do 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.
How do you keep fake indigo from flopping?
How Do You Keep Fake Indigo From Flopping? Removing the seed pods can help prevent the stems from laying over from the weight of the pods. You can also place cages around the plants, early in the spring to help support the plant once the flowers and seed pods get too heavy.
What grows well with blue indigo?
It prefers moist to normal soil without a lot of organic matter. The black seed heads can be used in dried flower arrangements. Wild Blue Indigo makes a great companion plants with grasses, Black eyed Susan, Goats Beard, Wild Bergamot, Culiver's Root, Mountain Mint, and Ox Eyed Sunflower.
How fast does Baptisia grow?
Seedling Baptisia plants grow slowly and will not bloom for at least 2 to 3 years. Baptisia can also be rooted from stem cuttings.
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.
Does Baptisia need full sun?
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.
Is Baptisia a perennial?
About Baptisia. Baptisia or False Indigo is a hardy perennial that will look great from the time it emerges in the spring, all summer long and even into the winter. Most baptisias are fairly large plants that can reach to 4 ft.
A Fabulous Perennial Planting Idea
A relatively low-growing combination of plants that makes the most of a poor soil! Most of these plants are drought tolerant, deer resistant, low maintenance, excellent as cut flowers and real magnets for butterflies and bees.
A Fresh Border Idea with Monarda, Geranium and Phlox
A lovely plant combination for a long lasting display. Easy to grow, the plants selected offer a soft harmony of pink, blue and purple shades that are soothing to the eye. The planting palette includes herbaceous perennials chosen for their individual qualities
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 ).
Can you divide a baptisia plant?
Because mature baptisias have thick, long taproots, they don’t fare well if you try to uproot and divide them. Transplanting and dividing is best done while your plants are still young. If you must divide them, wait until spring and dig deeply to avoid cutting into the root system.
Do baptisias need fertilizer?
No need. Because they are legumes, baptisias supply their own fertilizer through the nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots (see All About Roots ).
Do baptisms need staking?
Baptisias don't normally require staking , but may need some support if they're grown in partial shade. If your plants tend to flop, secure them to a peony ring or other support in early spring.
Is blueberry sundae a perennial?
Making the list of Proven Winners’ top 10 blue perennials, ‘Blueberry Sundae’ is about half the size of some native baptisia species, making this a good choice for small gardens and urban settings.
What is a hybrid of Baptisia?
It is a cross between the two previously described species, B. alba and B. australis. Dusty-looking, charcoalcolored stems and smoky purple flowers are proof that ‘Purple Smoke’ combines the best attributes of both its parents.
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.
Can indigos be substituted for lupines?
Wild indigos are worthy substitutes for lupines, which don’t like the hot, muggy southeastern summers. These sturdy American natives are so rugged, low-maintenance, and long-lived—not to mention beautiful—that it makes me want to salute them.
Is baptismia a perennial?
Nearly a quarter century of growing the genus Baptisia has only increased my interest in this wonderful, mostly southern group of native North American perennials. As curator of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, I have focused on propagating, growing, and telling gardeners about these worthy wildflowers. I have even had the privilege of introducing a superior form, Baptisia X ‘Purple Smoke’, to the nursery trade.
Do bumblebees know what to do with indigo?
Bumblebees know a good thing when they see it. So do gardeners. And both buzz with approval when the wild indigo ( Baptisia spp.) blooms. These rugged plants and their lupine-like spires of bloom are real attentiongetters. In early spring, when the white wild indigos wave their banners of bloom atop 3-foot spikes, there’s a refrain I hear over and over from visitors to the garden: “Wow! What’s that?”
How big do baptisias get?
Most baptisias are fairly large plants that can reach to 4 ft. in height with about a 3-ft. spread.
Is baptism a pest?
Baptisias are generally free of pest problems and long-lived plants that are great additions to just about any garden that has the space for one of these great plants.
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.
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.
What do hybrid flowers look like?
Newer hybrids have flowers that are yellow or purple. The flowers can be cut and used in arrangements. 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.
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.
How to get taproots out of a plant?
Using a spade, dig 6 inches around your plant. Once you are down about 12 inches, start digging under the root ball. At this point, you will encounter the taproots. Cut them using pruners or loppers if they are particularly large. Once you have the entire root ball out of the ground, brush away as much soil as you can.
What is the name of the plant with leaves that grow in groups of three around the stem?
The leaves are trifoliate which means that they grow in groups of three around the stem.
Where can I find a sage plant?
This is a plant that is native to North America so you may only find it in the UK in nurseries that specialize in rare plants. I hope that you can find it. They are lovely.
What color are baptisias?
Now, gardeners can find varieties that flower in shades of white, pink, yellow, red, and chocolate brown, as well as in bi-color combinations. False indigo's blue-green foliage looks appealing year-round.
What is the name of the plant that has blue-green foliage?
Baptisia. Commonly known as false indigo, this rugged native prairie plant features tall spires of colorful blooms along with attractive blue-green foliage. The flowers resemble those of peas or beans, which are related.
How much sun does a baptism need?
No. Baptisia needs at least six hours of direct sun for strong, healthy growth. Plant them in a sunny spot to keep them compact and producing lots of flowers.
Do baptisms die back?
No. Baptisia die back to their roots after a hard frost in the fall and remain dormant until the following spring.
Is baptism a perennial or a perennial?
Baptisia are considered moderate growers when compared to other perennials. In the first year, their energy goes into growing roots before producing flowers.
Does baptism grow faster in soil?
No. Baptisia will grow and mature faster in a fertile soil, but it’s not required.
What is a baptism bush?
Baptisia, or false indigo, is a spectacular native wild flowering bush that adds lustrous blue tones to the perennial garden. These plants send out deep taproots, so you should give some thought to the location of the plant at installation because transplanting Baptisia plants can be tricky. If you already have a plant that needs to be moved, it can be quite an undertaking because the taproot may become damaged and the plant will suffer transplant shock. Here are a few tips on how to transplant Baptisia for an enhanced success rate. Timing is everything, as are the right tools and techniques.
How tall does a baptisma grow?
Baptisia can grow 3 to 4 feet (1 m.) tall and just as wide. This is a rather large bundle of sticks to try to move, so the best thing to do is cut some of the growth back in early spring to make the plant easier to manage.
How to replant a sage plant?
When new growth appears, use a high nitrogen fertilizer or dress around the root zone with compost. Use two inches of mulch over the roots to conserve moisture and prevent competitive weeds.
Can you transplant a false indigo plant?
If you are truly desperate to get your false indigo into another location, Baptisia transplanting should be undertaken with caution. Failure to get the majority of the taproot and a good portion of the fibrous root system will result in the inability of the plant to re-establish itself.
Can you move a baptism plant?
Most experts, however, don’t recommend moving a Baptisia plant. This is due to the thick taproot and a wildly spread root system. Incorrect practices could result in the loss of the plant. In most instances, it is best to just let the plant abide where it is located and try management with pruning.
Should You Try Moving a Baptisia Plant?
Baptisia is one of those easy to care for herbaceous perennials that attract beneficial insects, provide cut flowers, require little maintenance, and don’t usually need to be divided. After about 10 years, some plants do get floppy at the center and it may make sense to try to divide the root mass. This can be quite tricky due to the fragile, fibrous root system and deep taproot. Transplanting false indigo or division attempts should be made in the earliest of spring when the soil is just workable.
