Mt Cuba Center
Morning sunrise illuminates the round garden at Mt. Cuba Center.
Explore the Gardens Virtual Tour Virtual Tour
HOURS

Thanks for a great year! Mt. Cuba Center is closed for general admission for the season and will reopen on April 3, 2024.

An ecological gardening certificate student completes a Native Plants of Fall exam in Mt. Cuba Center's naturalistic gardens.
Ecological Gardening Certificate Learn More Learn More
Program Guide

Classes offered year-round. Learn to garden in harmony with nature, take an art or wellness class, and more!

Carex barrattii
Latest Trial: Carex for the Mid-Atlantic Region Learn More Learn More
Trial Garden

Mt. Cuba Center evaluates native plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value.

Mt. Cuba Center's natural lands pictured at sunset.
Protecting Natural Lands Learn More Learn More
Ecological Land Management

Mt. Cuba conserves and stewards more than 1,000 acres including meadows, forests, streams and riparian corridors.

Two guests walk down the West Slope path in spring at Mt. Cuba Center.
Gift a Membership Gift Guide Gift Guide
MEMBERSHIP

Enjoy unlimited general admission, member discounts, guest passes, and more!

close
Mt Cuba Center
Back to list

Baptisia australis

Native Plants

Blue False Indigo

4 Photos


Summary

Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) is a beautiful, long-lived, drought tolerant perennial with a robust habit and attractive foliage. In late May, its intensely saturated violet blue flower spikes rise above 3-4’ tall multi-stemmed plants with bluish green foliage. Blue false indigo prefers full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained to dry, and low nutrient soils. However, in too much shade or high nutrient soils, this plant flops. Blue false indigo makes a stunning statement in the perennial border or naturalized in meadows. Combine this plant with little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), Small’s ragwort (Packera anonyma), downy phlox (Phlox pilosa), narrow leaf blue-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), and foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis). Zones 3-9. 


More Details

  • Plant Type
    perennial 
  • Sun/Shade Conditions
    full-sun-to-part-shade 
  • Foliage Character
    deciduous 
  • Soil Moisture
    average, dry 
  • Flowering Period
    mid-spring
  • Soil PH
    adaptable 
  • Flower Color
    purple 
  • Summer Foliage Color
    blue-green 
  • Fall Foliage Color
    green 
  • Fruit/Seed Color
    black 

Additional Information

USDA Plants Database, Illinois Wildflowers