#Plants with indigo flower series#

Add to a cut-flower garden for long-lasting indoor bouquets.

There are many ways to use baptisia, and here are a few suggestions: BAPTISIA PICTURESīaptisia is right at home in cottage gardens, meadow and native plant gardens, as well as pollinator gardens. The frost-nipped foliage will blacken, but the attractive seed pods add interest to the winter garden. End-of-season care:Ĭut your plants back to the ground after the first hard frost in fall or before new growth emerges in the spring. If your plants tend to flop, secure them to a peony ring or other support in early spring. Support:īaptisias don't normally require staking, but may need some support if they're grown in partial shade. Because they are legumes, baptisias supply their own fertilizer through the nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots (see All About Roots). If you must divide them, wait until spring and dig deeply to avoid cutting into the root system. Transplanting and dividing is best done while your plants are still young. Dividing:īecause mature baptisias have thick, long taproots, they don’t fare well if you try to uproot and divide them. You do not need to prune back Baptisia in the fall. If you want seedpods to form, forego extensive pruning and let your plants go to seed. However, you can cut back plants by as much as a third in midsummer to shape them to your liking, just as you would when pruning shrubs. Pruning and deadheading:īaptisias will rarely rebloom if deadheaded, and doing so will prevent the development of the attractive seedpods.

Once they take root, they are very drought-tolerant thanks to their extensive root system. Keep soil evenly moist until plants become established. Soil:Īverage, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic Watering: To see the growth habit of Baptisia, view this short video (less than 2 minutes) to see an established Decadence® Deluxe ‘Pink Lemonade’ Baptisia. Rarely bothered by insect pests or foliar diseasesĭecadence® Deluxe 'Pink Lemonade' Baptisia.

#Plants with indigo flower series#

However, newer hybrids, such as the Decadence® series from Proven Winners, offer more colors, including bright yellow, pink, sapphire, and even bicolors. alba, are typically limited to shades of blue, purple, and white. Flower colors and characteristicsįlorets are shaped like pea blossoms and are borne loosely on elegant 12- to 24-inch spires. Plants grown from seeds may take 2 or 3 years to bloom and as long as 5 years to reach their full, shrublike appearance. In cooler weather, bloom times may be longer. Typically 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the temperature. Late spring to early summer Length of bloom In too much shade, plants may get lanky and bloom less profusely. Height/spread:įull sun is the ideal environment for Baptisia, though they do tolerate light shade. Typically hardy in zones 3-9 for wild species 4-9 for cultivated hybrids.