The 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year® & 1992 North Carolina Botanical Garden Wildflower of the Year, Baptisia australis, (Zones 3-9) is quite shrubby for an herbaceous perennial. Reaching 3-4' tall and wide, it provides massive structural presence with clean, blue-green foliage. The upright spikes of deep indigo flowers in late spring are architectural standouts, followed by large, charcoal-black seed pods that add a percussive rattle and visual interest to the winter landscape. As a legume, it partners with soil microbes to 'fix' atmospheric nitrogen, essentially creating its own fertilizer while improving the soil health for the plants around it. Baptisia australis is a critical host plant for several sulfur butterflies and the Wild Indigo Duskywing. Its flowers are specifically engineered for larger bees (like Bumblebees) who have the strength to "trip" the bloom to access the nectar. Performance & Site Care Baptisia australis spends its first few years building a massive, woody taproot system before it puts on a major show. Because of this root system it is difficult to move once established—site it carefully. This trait makes B. australis an excellent Erosion Control for large embankments. It thrives in full sun and is indifferent to poor soil and drought. It will tolerate partial sun, but blooming will be reduced. In the Southeast, it is a bulletproof performer that handles our humidity without losing its clean, structural form. Because it is highly resistant to deer and salt, it is an ideal solution for natural screening along property lines or road frontages.
