Their shape and foliage color contrasts well with upright ornamental grasses. Baptisias are appropriate in traditional cottage gardens, native plant gardens, and contemporary gardens. They work well as individual specimens in small gardens or as masses in larger areas.
BAPTISIA MINOR LICENSE
Photo by Urtica, Flickr Creative Commons License 2.0 Landscape Useīaptisias can be used as seasonal, herbaceous shrubs in borders. Some find this attractive and let the stems remain for winter interest, while others prefer to cut them back in fall.Īlthough the leaves die back to the ground completely each winter, Baptisia foliage is dense and attractive, giving the plant a shrub-like appearance that provides a strong backdrop to the garden. Baptisia leaves vary in color from blue-green to bright yellow-green to soft, felted gray-green. Leaflet shapes vary from slender oblong to almost rounded oval. Baptisia flowers strongly resemble ornamental lupines, perennials that do not tolerate heat and humidity.īaptisia leaves are trifoliate (composed of three leaflets) and are arranged alternately along the stems.
BAPTISIA MINOR FULL
Large, mature plants may hold as many as a hundred spikes in full bloom. Flower spikes can be 12 to 24 inches tall, composed of typical pea-shaped flowers. Bloom typically lasts between 3 and 6 weeks.įlowers are held in impressive upright racemes (flower spikes with a short stem attaching each flower to the main stalk) of blue, white or yellow flowers. Most Baptisia bloom in March, April or early May, but it varies depending on species, region and weather. Photo by Inspiration Point Studio, Flickr, Creative Commons License 2.0
Baptisias are unusually long- lived perennials and can continue to grow and bloom in the same location for decades. They may not bloom until their second or third season from seedlings. Growth Rateīaptisias will grow to their full height each year after the first or second season from planting, and thereafter will grow steadily in width and bulk. A few species grow no more than 1 to 2 feet tall. australis, grow 3 to 4 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide in cultivation. They are excellent, attractive, low-maintenance plants.
As a group, these perennials are deer resistant, heat and humidity tolerant, and drought tolerant once established. Baptisias have a very wide, natural range to which they seem well adapted. Several are native to South Carolina, and all baptisias can be grown throughout the state. There are around 20 species of Baptisia, all native to eastern or midwestern North America.
Blue false indigo ( Baptisia australis) and yellow wild indigo ( Baptisia tinctoria) were used to produce a blue dye by both Native Americans and settlers before the introduction of the better quality true indigo ( Indigofera tinctoria). The botanical name Baptisia originates from the Greek word bapto, to dip or to dye. They provide an extended season of interest from flowers and foliage. Photo by Tim Waters, Flickr, Creative Commons License 2.0īaptisias, also known as false or wild indigos ( Baptisia spp.), are a group of large, long-lived perennials. Baptisia australis (blue false indigo) in bloom shows the appeal of these plants.
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