Blue Indigo
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Blue Indigo |
| Botanical Name | Baptisia australis |
| Mature Size | 36” - 48” tall; 36” - 48” wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Bloom Time | Early spring to early summer |
| Flower Color | Blue |
| Soil | False indigo prefers moderately well-draining soils, but it will tolerate dry soils once it is well established. It is not particular about soil pH but does best in soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. |
| Water | Keep a false indigo watered regularly for the first year, but after this, it will do well with about 1 inch of water every couple of weeks. Once established, Baptisia is relatively drought-tolerant. This is a native wildflower, and in most regions, it does fine with whatever rainfall nature provides. |
| Temperature and Humidity | False indigo will thrive in the garden in the conditions throughout its hardiness range, zones 3 to 9. It does equally well in dry and humid climates, provided it gets adequate soil moisture. |
| Fertilizer | Feeding is not necessary for these plants, and can even be counterproductive; excessive fertilizing can cause the plant to get leggy and flop over. |
| Pruning | The only pruning required for this plant is to remove the dead stems at some point, either in the late fall or early winter, or in the spring before new growth begins. Because this plant takes on such a shrub-like appearance, you can also shape it by pruning, which is best done immediately after its flowering period is over. |
| Overwintering | There is almost no required winterizing routine for these plants. Many people cut off the stems to ground level as winter approaches, but even this can be omitted if you want to leave the seed pods in place for winter interest. And in borderline zones where winters are damp and above freezing, clearing the ground of plant debris is a good idea to keep the soil from being too soggy and possibly causing root rot. |
| Source | https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/baptisia-australis/ https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-and-care-for-false-indigo-1402900 |