2010 Perennial Plant of the Year:
Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo)

Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo) has been chosen by the Perennial Plant Association to be the 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year. This is one great plant to have!!! It is showy throughout the year, is drought tolerant once established, deer usually don’t bother it, it attracts butterflies, it has no serious pest or disease problems, it is very easy to grow and requires very little maintenance. An all around great plant to add to your landscape!

Growing Information

Height: 3 to 4 feet
Width: 3 to 4 feet
Conditions: Best in full sun. Will tolerate part shade
Average, dry to medium, well-drained soil
Bloom Time: May – June (Intense indigo blue blooms – bluish green foliage)

Baptisia works very well as a specimen plant because of it’s clump-forming habit and makes a nice backdrop in the perennial border. It would also be a nice addition to a cottage garden, a native plant garden and looks natural in a meadow setting.

It is a very long-lived perennial. No need to divide this perennial as it forms a very extensive root system over time and resents being transplanted, once established.

Baptisia has foot long flower spikes that can be used in floral arrangements. Later in the season, the blooms are followed by puffy seed pods, emerging as green then turning to a charcoal black color when ripened by late summer or early fall. These pods have a very interesting look and also work well in floral arrangements. No need to trim these pods from the plant at the end of the season as they will add much interest to the winter garden.

Baptisia australis is a highly recommended perennial for your shopping list and is available and easy to find in the spring season. One other thing to mention is that you can also find other varieties of Baptisia available that bloom in yellow, white and different hues of blue. So, mix it up!

Be sure to take a look at this wonderful perennial on your next visit to Fairview.

Happy Gardening!
Mary Ann G.
Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Center