Baptisia Australis for Native Wildflower Gardens

The Perennial Plant Association is a horticultural trade organization that chooses a perennial plant winner every year. It was an ornamental grass last year; for 2010, it is a flower called Baptisia australis.

Baptisia australis is a North American native plant that can be used by native plant enthusiasts in wildflower gardens. A description of this blue false indigo offers clues why perennial plant professionals voted it a winner.

Spring Flowering Perennial

Baptisia australis is a spring flowering shrub-sized perennial often used as a background plant. It develops into a 3′ – 4′ tall perennial with an upright habit within three years. Baptisia is hardy from zones 3 – 9.

Baptisia australis has small bluish-violet lupine type blooms on a raceme shaped flower stalk attached to an upright stem. The bluish green clover-shaped leaves create a mound of foliage. This perennial blooms for three or four weeks.

Baptisia hybrids do flower in other colors, as well. Baptisia ‘Solar Flare’ is a bright yellow flower that fades to a soft orange with age. The plant grows 30″ – 36″ tall. The plant tolerates clay soil but does not thrive in wet conditions.

Low Maintenance Blue False Indigo

Blue false indigo requires proper placement before planting, a full sun location and space able to grow to full size. Satisfying these needs, Baptisia australis is a low maintenance perennial in the garden.

It rarely requires digging and dividing; in fact, because of its taproot, gardeners are encouraged to avoid that chore. Staking will only be required when the plant flops, usually from growing in too much shade.

Blue false indigo is drought tolerant once established. The plant has no serious insect or disease problems. Foraging deer rarely damages Baptisia australis for its bitter tasting foliage.

Blue false indigo is propagated by seed. The hard seed coating requires scarification. It is best to transplant when seedlings are small, before taproots are well developed.

How to Use Baptisia Flowering Plants

Baptisia australis is useful for gardeners remaining true to creating native plant gardens. This flower is also appropriate for prairie and meadow plantings or in a cottage garden setting. The lupine shaped flowers attract many butterflies so it is a useful background plant for a pollinator’s garden, too.

The dried seedpods while still on the live plant rattle creating wind chimes in the garden. However, it is the ripe seedpods turned charcoal that is unique for gardeners who make dried flower arrangements.

Baptisia has proven itself a reliable plant to grow in many circumstances and easy to find at plant nurseries. These are some reasons why the Perennial Plant Association named it a winner for 2010.

Blue false indigo will thrive with plants that need similar cultural environments. A plant grouping of perennial Geranium, Calamintha and Sporobolus, an ornamental grass, is one idea worth considering.