Baptisia: How to Grow It + Newly Introduced Cultivars

One task I am not particularly looking forward to this spring is uprooting and moving a mature False Indigo, Baptisia australis. It's been in the same spot for at least a decade. It's not going to be easy to unearth its deep roots, but sadly it has to be done.

A garden like mine could easily be a full-time job, but the reality is that I have an average of just two to four hours a day to spend on it. When I added a new flowerbed to the backyard last summer, I did it knowing that something else would have to give. There was no way I could manage more garden in the same amount of time.

With a heavy heart, I decided to reduce the size of the front garden in favour of the more private backyard space. So last fall I moved just about everything but ran out of time before I could tackle the biggest job– the Baptisia you see in the picture above.

Spring is a terrible time to move it (it blooms in spring, so the fall would have been a little better), but it's a task that has to be finished.

Baptisia australis is a magnificent plant that demands very little. Fingers crossed I don't kill it!

Native Baptisia australis was used to produce a blue dye by Native Americans.

Baptisia australis is a native plant that can be found in woods, tickets and along stream banks in an area that stretches from southern Pennsylvania to North Carolina and Tennessee. It has purply-blue flower spikes and bluish-green leaves that make me think of peas or clover (it is a member of the pea family). Spent flowers become long, rounded seedpods that age to become deep charcoal.

As well as Baptisia australis, there is native Baptisia alba, which has white flowers and Baptisia tinctoria, which has yellow blooms. Baptisia minor is a smaller plant.

How to Grow Baptisia:

False Indigo, Baptisia australis can be grown in average to quite poor, well-drained soil. It can handle a little bit of light shade, but it would be much happier if you planted it in full sun. When it first emerges in the spring the fresh shoots of Baptisia australis are quite upright. The plant opens up slowly through it's blooming phase and becomes more of a vase shape.

This is a large, long-lived perennial. Think small shrub when you try to place it in the garden (Note: there are a few new cultivars that are more compact in size).

Baptisia requires patience. It grows quite slowly and may take a few years to get really established. As it grows, it develops deep and extensive roots that make moving it very difficult, so choose a spot carefully and stick with it.

The good news is Baptisia is very undemanding and virtually pest-free. I chop mine to the ground in the fall and that's just about all I do.

The reward is a spring showstopper that will be well worth the wait. As it has done in my garden,
Baptisia australis continues to grow and bloom in the same spot for decades.

Propagation:

Baptisia can be grown from seed, but you're in for a long wait. It may take as long as three years to see even a few flowers. I'd recommend investing in a decent sized nursery plant instead.

Once your Baptisia is established you can propagate new plants from stem cuttings in early spring.  I've tried it and it is fairly easy to do. Each cutting needs one set of leaf buds.

Plant type: Perennial

Height & Spread: Depending on the cultivar: 3-5 ft high x 5-6 ft wide

Flower: A range of colors including indigo-blue, yellow, white, pink, purple, lavender, maroon & bi-colors

Bloom period: Early spring

Leaf color: Fresh green to grey-green

Light: Full sun

Growing Conditions: Average to poor well-drained soil

Water requirements: Fairly drought tolerant once established

Companion Plants: Blue Star, Salvia, Gas Plant, Peony, Iris

Divide: This is a long-lived perennial that likes to stay put, but it can be divided every 4-5 years.

Notes: Deer resistant & pretty much pest-free.

USDA Zones: 4-9

Baptisia 'Vanilla Cream'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

Modern Cultivars

If you've haven't heard of Baptisia yet, there's a reason. They mature slowly, so I doubt they are a quick cash crop for growers. 

They're also a bit gangly and awkward in a nursery pot. The flowers on a young potted plant are small and don't exactly scream "buy me!" 

But the popularity this plant is growing and breeders have responded with new and exciting color choices. Here's a quick look at some of the many cultivars now available:

'Purple Smoke' 

'Purple Smoke'  makes a perfect backdrop for this Salvia. The Toronto Botanical Garden in spring.

False Indigo, Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' is a recent introduction from the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Smoky-blue flowers are carried on dark green stems and foliage. Height: 100-135 cm ( 39-53 inches), Spread: 75-90 cm (29-35 inches). USDA Zones: 4-9.

Cultivars with Similar Colors:

Baptisia 'Lunar Eclipse' (not shown) is initially creamy-lemon and ages into a medium to dark violet producing a pretty two-toned effect.
Baptisia 'Starlight Prairieblues' has lavender flowers.

Baptisia 'Pink Truffles'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

False Indigo, Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Truffles' has soft pink flowers that appear atop a compact clump of deep blue-green foliage. The flowers lighten to lavender with age. This is a smaller sized cultivar. Height: 107-122 cm (42-48 inches), Spread: 152-183 (60-72 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

'Pink Lemonade'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

False Indigo, Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Lemonade' has soft yellow flowers that age to dusty raspberry-purple showing both colors at the same time. Height: 106-121 cm (42-48 inches), Spread: 116-121 cm (46-48 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Cultivars with Similar Colors:

Baptisia 'Solar Flare' has two-toned yellow and rusty-orange flowers.

Baptisia 'Vanilla Cream'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

False Indigo, Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Vanilla Cream' has pastel yellow buds that open into vanilla flowers. The compact foliage emerges bronze in spring and becomes grey-green. This cultivar was selected for its petite size and unique flowers. Height: 76-90 cm (30-36 inches), Spread: 90-106 cm (36 - 42 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Baptisia 'Dutch Chocolate'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners®  

False Indigo, Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Dutch Chocolate' has velvety chocolate-purple flowers above a compact, relatively short mound of deep blue-green foliage. This vigorous cultivar is well-suited to smaller urban gardens. Height: 76-90 cm (30-36 inches), Spread: 90-106 cm (36 - 42 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Cultivars with Similar Colors:

Baptisia 'Brownie Points' has two-toned yellow and caramel-brown flowers.
Baptisia 'Cherries Jubilee' has two-toned yellow and maroon flowers.
Baptisia 'Twilight Prairieblues' has smoky purple flowers.

'Sparkling Sapphires'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners®  

False Indigo, Baptisia Decadence® 'Sparkling Sapphires' has deep violet-colored flowers on a compact plant with deep blue-green foliage. Height: 76-90 cm (30-36 inches), Spread: 76-90 cm (30-36 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

Cultivars with Similar Colors:

Baptisia 'Blue Towers' has periwinkle-blue flowers.
Baptisia 'Blueberry Sundae' has deep indigo-blue flowers.
Baptisia 'Indigo Spires' has deep reddish-purple flowers.
Baptisia 'Midnight Prairie blues' has deep purple flowers.

Baptisia 'Lemon Meringue'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

False Indigo, Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Lemon Meringue' is a vigorous cultivar that has lemon-yellow flowers on a compact, upright mound of blue-green foliage. Height: 76-90 cm (30-36 inches), Spread: 76-90 cm (30-36 inches). USDA zones: 4-9.

 Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' and a Salvia at its feet. Private garden, Fergus Ontario.

Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight'  Private garden, Toronto, Ontario.

Yellow False Indigo, Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' has blue-green foliage with canary-yellow flowers. Height: 120-135 cm (47-53 inches), Spread: 80-90 cm (31-35 inches). USDA Zones: 4-9.

Note:You can find more information on the Proven Winners® cultivars at Provenwinners.com

Ideas for Companion Planting:

Plant Baptisia in the company of other spring bloomers including Gas Plant, Dictamnus Albus Blue Star, Amsonia, Bearded Iris, Peony, Catmint, Nepeta and Salvia.

 Yellow and blue Baptisia with pink flowering Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone'. The Toronto Botanical Garden in spring.

Baptisia and Blue Star, Amsonia in my garden.

Baptisia and pale yellow Bearded Iris. Private garden, Toronto, Ontario.

Yellow Baptisia in the background with Catmint, Salvia and Elderberry, Sambucus racemosa 'Lemony Lace'. Private garden, Toronto, Ontario.

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New Perennials from Proven Winners

Bush Clematis 'Stand by Me'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

This is not a sponsored post, so I feel free to say that I have mixed feelings about new plant introductions. For one thing, they can be super pricy. Some introductions go on to become classics, while others never seem to catch on and disappear to make room for yet more plants.

But if, like me, you love plants, new introductions can be very tempting. Generally they offer some  improvement like a longer bloom time or a more compact shape. These shiny new features make new introductions alluringly collectable.

Take the Clematis above. How pretty and dainty it looks! And here it is again, this time in a container planting:

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

Clematis 'Stand by Me' is a non-vining herbaceous clematis that dies back to the ground at the end of the growing season. It has blue, bell-shaped flowers and will re-bloom throughout the season. Average, well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline is best. While its growth is upright, "Stand by Me' does benefit from staking, cages or neighbouring plants for support. Full sun or light shade. Height: 86-96 cm (34-38 inches), Spread: 60-70cm (24-28 inches) USDA zones: 3-7.

In the same container (above) is yet another new perennial that gardeners with part-shade will find interesting. Full-sized Goatsbeard, Aruncus dioicus is a huge plant. 'Chantilly Lace' is more compact and is better suited for small to average-sized suburban gardens.

It's also more drought tolerant than Astilbe.

Goatsbeard, Aruncus 'Chantilly Lace' produces beautiful sprays of lacy, cream-colored flowers. It has a similar look to an Astilbe, but is more drought tolerant. 'Chantilly Lace' grows best in moist, humus-rich soils. In northern climates, it can be grown in full sun provided it has adequate moisture. In southern zones, however, it prefers partial or full shade. Height: 76-80 cm (30-32 inches), Spread: 101-121 cm (40-48 inches) USDA zones: 3-7.

Hosta, Shadowland® 'Waterslide'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

One of my favourite purchases last year was a ruffled hosta, so of course, this new hosta caught my eye:

Hosta, Shadowland® 'Waterslide' has ruffled glaucous, blue-green leaves that hold their color all season long. It has lavender flowers in late summer. This perennial grows best in moist, well-drained, organically enriched soil. Full to part-shade. Height: 35-38 cm (14-15 inches), Spread: 76-81 cm (30-32 inches) USDA zones: 3-9.

Hemerocallis 'Orange Smoothie'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

Re-blooming daylilies are always a great asset, so a new peach cultivar would be nice to have. And I really like the ruffled edge on 'Orange Smoothie's' flower petals.

Daylily, Hemerocallis Rainbow Rhythm® 'Orange Smoothie' has orange-mango petals with a light rose band. It has a mounded shape and strong, well-branched, heavily budded scapes. 'Orange Smoothie' blooms in midsummer and again later in the season. This is a tough, adaptable perennial that will grow in almost any soil. Plant it in full sun for optimum flowering performance. Height: 50-60 cm (20-24 inches), Spread: 45-60 cm (40-48 inches) USDA zones: 3-9.

Tall Cushion Phlox 'Cloudburst'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

I try to add at least one new Phlox cultivar each year. This new introduction blooms earlier than most and might be a good one to add to my collection.

Tall Cushion Phlox 'Cloudburst' is an early blooming phlox with a broad, mounding, billowy habit. Lavender-purple flowers have bright pink eyes. Its dark green leaves are disease resistant. 'Cloudburst' grows best in consistently moist, well-drained soil and full sun. It thrives with regular fertilization and good air circulation. Height: 45-60 cm (26-28 inches), Spread: 38-42 cm (40-48 inches) USDA zones: 3-9.

'Superstar' and 'Popstar' (right). Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

It would be hard to choose between these two Sedums. I guess it might come down to which shade of pink you prefer:  

Stonecrop Sedum, Rock 'N Grow® 'Superstar' has dark turquoise foliage and forms a dense, compact mound with rosy-pink flowers. It performs best in full sun and poor to average, well-drained soil. 'Superstar' does not require supplemental water or fertilizer. Height: 25-30 (10-12 inches), Spread: 50-60 cm (20-24 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9

Stonecrop Sedum, Rock 'N Grow® 'Popstar' has blue-green foliage and has a dense, compact, mounded habit. The flowers are salmon-pink. It does best in full sun and poor to average, well-drained soil. 'Popstar' does not require supplemental water or fertilizer. Height: 20-30cm (8 - 10 inches), Spread:50-60cm (20 - 24 inches). USDA Zones: 3-9

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

'Pink Lemonade'. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners® 

In the last few years, Baptisia has gone from a little-known perennial to one that is quite coveted. The old-fashioned classic with indigo-blue flowers is still one of my favourites, but breeders have managed to produce an amazing array of appealing colors.

My first reaction to this new cultivar (above) was that it would be hard to find a place for the unusual combination of pink and yellow, but then I began to warm to the mix. I could imagine 'Pink Lemonade' might compliment my white Gas Plant, Dictamnus albus quite nicely.

False Indigo, Baptisia Decadence® Deluxe 'Pink Lemonade' has soft yellow flowers that age to dusty raspberry purple, showing both colors at the same time. Pink Lemonade' grows best in full sun and average to poor, well-drained soil. Moderately drought tolerant once established. This is a long-lived perennial that does not need to be divided and prefers not to be moved. Height: 106-121 cm (42-48 inches), Spread: 116-121 cm (46-48 inches) Keep in mind that this is a large perennial that is almost shrub-like in scale. USDA zones: 4-9.

This ends this little preview of new perennials. I hope you've found something you'd like to add to your spring wish list.

(If you would like more information on any of these perennials, you can visit 

the Proven Winners website.)

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