The common name of false indigo refers to the use of certain native baptisias by early American colonists as a substitutes, albeit inferior, for true indigo (genus Indigofera) in making dyes. Pacific Giant Black Knight Striking violet blue-black flowers with dark. The genus name Baptisia comes from the Greek word bapto meaning "to dye". Stems with seed pods are valued additions to dried flower arrangements. Early pioneer settlers copied this practice. The Cherokees used the plant as a source of blue dye for their clothes. The flowers and stems turn black as soon as they begin to dry. However, a bouquet of fresh cut flowers does not last very long. Seeds rattle around in the blackened pods which were once popularly used by children as rattles. colored blue flowers arranged in spikes make it very attractive. Flowers give way to inflated seed pods (to 2.5" long) which turn charcoal black when ripe and have considerable ornamental interest. This variety is smaller in overall size, but it has slightly larger fragrant flowers. 1 Baptisia australis Blue Wild Indigo HEIGHT: 4 Feet BLOOM: May - July SOIL: Medium-Wet, Medium SUN: Full - Partial DESCRIPTION: Like most of its genus, Baptisia australis spends its first few years developing mostly below. It branches at the top with the flowers in an erect short terminal raceme at the pinnacle. There is a dwarf variety of Blue Wild Indigo, Baptisia australis minor, that occurs in prairies of the southern and central Great Plains. Loess Hills Wild Ones Native Plant Sale August 2022 PLANTS AND DETAILS Color behind name of plant indicates color of bloom. The plant is erect, rising from a branched root system which has root tubercles. It features purple, lupine-like flowers in erect racemes (to 12") atop flower spikes extending well above a foliage mound of clover-like, trifoliate, bluish-green leaves (leaflets to 2" long). Description General: Blue wild indigo is a native, perennial, deep rooted warm season legume which reproduces by seed or rhizomes. Baptisia australis, commonly called blue false indigo, is an upright perennial which typically grows 3-4' tall and occurs in rich woods, thickets and along streambanks from Pennsylvania south to North Carolina and Tennessee.
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