This tough, long-lived native perennial makes a statement as an anchor plant or a hedge. Give it space as it grows to 3-4 feet and just as wide. Wild blue indigo is the common name and it is best known as a dye plant. It is impressive in bloom with its large spires of blue, pea like flowers. The blue green foliage and black seed pods are also attractive. There are many hybrids available but this is the native species. Blue Baptisia will easily cross with other species. Give them full sun, and they are not picky about soil and are also drought tolerant due to a very deep root system. Because of the deep roots they don’t transplant well. You can cut back the foliage after bloom to make them less likely to sprawl. A member of the legume family they will not need added fertilizer because they fix nitrogen. Baptisia are loved by butterflies.
