Baptisia

Baptisia is one of those tall plants with beautiful spires, often in a showy blue, that draws everyone to it for an admiring closer look. It's a native prairie plant that bears long, tall spikes of pealike blooms in late spring. As the flowers ripen, they turn into interesting black seedpods often used in fall arrangements.

It is a drought-tolerant plant that forms a deep taproot. Choose its location carefully; it is difficult to transplant once established.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

3-8

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

2-4 feet tall

Plant Width:

2-4 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Cut Flowers,Dried Flowers,Attracts Butterflies,Drought Tolerant,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Baptisia

Baptisia australis has blue-green foliage that is attractive even when not in bloom and, because of its size (3-4 feet tall), makes an excellent shrub substitute. Zones 3-9
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Lesser baptisia

Baptisia australis minor is a smaller version of baptisia, growing to only 2 feet tall and blooming slightly later. Zones 3-9
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'Starlight Prairieblues' baptisia

Baptisia 'Starlite Prairieblues' is a hybrid between two species of baptisia. Its bicolored flowers are lavender blue and cream with a touch of yellow. It grows to 3 feet tall. Zones 4-8
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'Twilight Prairieblues' baptisia

Baptisia 'Twilight Prairieblues' is an extremely floriferous hybrid with unique deep purple blossoms with a splash of lemon yellow. It is a compact plant that grows to 30 inches tall. Zones 4-8
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Garden Plans

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Burst of Summer Color Garden Plan
Easy-Care Romance Garden Plan
Prairie Garden
Garden Plan to Soften a Fence
Shared Garden
Easy Streetside Garden Plan
Cool-Color Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Black-eyed Susan

The golden blooms of black-eyed Susan really pop set against a backdrop of blue-green baptisia foliage.

Coneflower

Purple coneflower is another prairie native plant that combines well with baptisia in a sunny border.

Perennial geranium

Plant perennial geraniums at the base of baptisia to create a low-growing carpet of color. Coordinate lavender-blue flower tones for double the impact.

Propagation

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Seed