Baptisia, False Indigo, Pink Lemonade - Coming May 2024

Baptisia, False Indigo, Gallon pot

FS, Zone 4, Blooms May - June, seed pods late summer, 4’ x 3.5’, low to avg moisture, deer resistant

Baptisias are very easy to grow natives that once established will grace your garden all season long with beauty. They bloom early in the season and are mainly visited by bees and in particular bumble bees. The florets grow on stalks or racemes and open from bottom up. The florets are five petaled and the stemens and anthers are hidden from view. Only a strong bee like the bumble bee can pry their way into the nectar and in the process get covered in pollen. The female Bumble bees are just emerging from their solitary nests in eary spring and desparetly need this pollen to feed the first of their offspring. Other smaller bees find ways to drill into the nectar.

Like many natives, baptisia develops an extremely deep taproot. This allows it to survive in times of drought. The plant takes approximately 3 years to get to a mature size. Once it has reached that status the foliage can be cut for arrangements. Make sure you locate this plant in its forever home. Due to the very deep tap root, they are not easily transplanted.

We source these plants as bare roots from Walters Gardens in Zeeland Michigan. They are renowned breeders of Baptisia.