Wild Blue Indigo
Baptisia australis
General Information
Wild Blue Indigo is a slow-growing, tall, clump-forming herbaceous perennial.
Wild Blue Indigo is typically found in woodland borders, rich woods, thickets, and along streambanks. It prefers consistent moisture.
Wild Blue Indigo has showy bright indigo blue flowers. It combines well with yellow and white-flowered perennials. Wild Blue Indigo flowers between May and June.
Ripened Wild Blue Indigo seed pods were used as rattles. A blue dye, nearly identical to the dye made from indigo, can be made from the flowers. The seed pods have an ornamental appearance and can be used in dried flower arrangements.
Plant Information
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Sun Preference:
Full Sun * Part Sun
Soil Moisture Preference:
Medium-Wet * Medium
Plant Height:
3 feet
Plant Width:
2 to 3 feet
Plant Spacing:
2 to 3 feet
Flower Color:
Blue
Flower timing:
May to June
Culture Information:
The best locations to plant Wild Blue Indigo include woodlands, butterfly gardens, children's gardens, drought tolerant gardens, native gardens, rain gardens, and along the edge of water gardens. Wild Blue Indigo can be especially attractive planted next to a wooded fence in a cottage garden.
When first planted, Wild Blue Indigo should be watered weekly for first few months, unless at least an inch of rain has been received in the last week to help it get established. After it becomes established, Wild Blue Indigo only needs watering during severe drought, as it tolerates drought.
As with most perennials, Wild Blue Indigo can be cut to the ground after the first freeze or left until late winter. Wild Blue Indigo takes several years to establish and does not transplant well once established, so its placement should be carefully selected.
Wild Blue Indigo has a medium flammability rating.
Tolerates:
Drought
Disease
Fire
Erosion
Salt
Poor Soil
Rabbits
erosion
Dry Soil
Clay Soil
Shallow, Rocky Soil
Highly Resistant to Deer
Pests & Disease:
Wild Blue Indigo typically has no serious insect problems.
Wild Blue Indigo doesn’t usually have serious disease problems.
Wild Blue Indigo causes LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. All parts are poisonous when ingestion. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Wildlife Use:
Pollinators: Wild Blue Indigo is attractive to butterflies, bees, and other insects. It is a larval host plant for a variety of butterflies including Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Frosted Elfin, Eastern Tailed Blue, Hoary Edge, and Wild Indigo Duskywing.
Birds: N/A.
Mammals: Wild Blue Indigo is highly resistant to damage by deer as a result of its toxicity.
Other: N/A.
Native to:
More Information:
NC State Plant Database:
Missouri Botanical Garden:
TN-KY Plant Atlas
Other Link: