Baptisia
Trouble-free and long-lived, the perennial baptisia is one of the very best backbone plants for any garden, north or south. A native member of the pea family, it has been a favorite of American gardeners since the mid-18th century. Forming tall, bushy clumps, baptisia has attractive deeply cut blue-green leaves that would guarantee it a place in the garden even if it didn't produce striking racemes of clear-blue pea-like flowers in early summer and interesting fat seedpods in fall.
Sometimes called wild or false indigo, is hardy to Zone 3 and has profuse, dense foliage and foot-long racemes of intense indigo-blue blossoms that lure butterflies into your garden. The flowers, which last for three to five weeks in late spring, are followed by large woody greenish pods that ripen to charcoal gray in fall. The pods can be left on- they're quite striking-- or sheared off, which gives the plant a shrubby look.
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Baptisia Alba
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Insider's secret Since baptisia takes a few years to flower, it's better to buy plants rather than grow from seed. Just keep in mind that mature plants stretch to 4 to 6 feet tall and spread quite a bit. (a grow-through ring is a smart way to contain baptisia.) Set new plants into their permanent locations about 36 inches apart in rich soil, moist or dry, in a site that receives full sun. |
