Description: Spikes of blue-purple flowers with attractive seed pods. 4 ft height
Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming perennial.
Sun/Shade: Full sun.
Water Needs: Low to moderate; drought-tolerant.
Soil Preferences: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil.
Benefits: Attracts pollinators and adds structure to gardens. Deer-resistant. Great for prairie restorations.
 
Like most of its genus, Baptisia australis spends its first few years developing mostly below ground. The branching foliage and blossoms become showier and more developed with each subsequent growing season.  For potted seedlings, this means they may have shorter, possibly floppy stems for the first couple of years before taking on a shrubbier appearance. Probably the most familiar and wide-ranging of Baptisias, Blue Wild Indigo can provide an early deep blue flare in spring in native plantings where its bushy structure complements summer bloomers. In addition to its many pollinators, Wild Blue Indigo is one of the host plants for the Wild Indigo Duskywing.
 
Their 4' height and branching habit make wide spacing advisable in home landscaping. The dried stems with seed pods are ideal for dried floral arrangements.