Baptisia alba
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Tried and True Recommended by 4 Professionals
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: false indigo
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Fabaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Spread: 2 to 2.5 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Description: Creamy white, occasionally streaked with darker patches.
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Fruit: Showy Fruit
Wildlife: Attracts Butterflies
Tolerates: Dry Soil, Drought
Uses: Dried Flower, Erosion Control, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates drought and poor soils. Over time, plants form slowly expanding clumps with deep and extensive root systems, and should not be disturbed once established. Difficult to grow from seed and slow to establish. Plants take on more of a shrubby appearance and tend to open up after bloom. Trimming or shearing foliage after bloom helps maintain rounded plant appearance and obviates any need for staking, but eliminates the developing seed pods which are so attractive.

Noteworthy Characteristics

White false indigo is an upright perennial which typically grows 2-3’ tall and occurs in dry woods from Tennessee and North Carolina to Florida. It features small, white, pea-like flowers (to 1/2” long) in erect racemes (to 12”) atop dark flower stems extending well above a foliage mound of clover-like, trifoliate, bluish-green leaves (leaflets to 2” long). Blooms in spring. Flowers give way to inflated seed pods (to 1 3/4” long) which turn brown to black when ripe and have considerable ornamental interest. Stems with seed pods are valued additions to dried flower arrangements.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Borders, cottage gardens, prairies, meadows and native plant gardens. Effective in naturalized settings. Best as a specimen or in small groups.

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