Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
[bap-TIZ-ee-ah oss-TRAL-iss]

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Mounded in the Fabaceae Family
 
Buy Blue False Indigo
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $16.31 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
#3 gallon Field

Grower approved but probably not garden center ready. (9/13)

 $24.75 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
38 FLAT Field $103.08 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

Discover Blue False Indigo: a bushy beauty with striking blue-green foliage and stunning indigo-blue flowers all summer long. Watch for its unique black pods that add intrigue to your garden!

Baptisia australis, commonly called blue wild indigo or blue false indigo, is a long-lived North American prairie perennial in the pea family and the best-known member of its genus in gardens -- named the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2010. It forms a rounded, shrub-like clump of blue-green, trifoliate foliage, 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, topped in late spring with upright spikes of indigo-blue, pea-shaped flowers. The flowers give way to inflated seed pods that ripen to charcoal-black and rattle in the wind, valued for dried arrangements.

A single deep taproot anchors the plant and makes it extremely drought tolerant once established, but also means it cannot be divided and resents being transplanted -- plan on two to three years before a young plant reaches full size and bloom.

Pros

  • Long-lived, extremely low-maintenance native perennial once established
  • Deep taproot brings excellent drought tolerance
  • 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year; a genus-defining garden plant
  • Larval host for the Wild Indigo Duskywing and several other butterfly species

Cons

  • Slow to establish -- can take 2-3 years to reach full size and bloom
  • Cannot be divided and resents transplanting once mature
  • Tall flower spikes may need staking, especially in partial shade
Why Like

A signature Midwestern prairie plant and an important early-season nectar source for emerging queen bumblebees. Its deep taproot helps stabilize prairie soil and reach moisture other plants cannot.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Mounded, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Perennial Plant of the Year, Potentially Toxic, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Slow Growth Rate, Thrillers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Winter Interest
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color Indigo Blue
Foliage Color
 

Awards
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Absolutely Easy Garden Recipes that include Blue False Indigo
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Asclepias tuberosa, Echinacea purpurea, Eryngium yuccifolium, Rudbeckia hirta, Solidago speciosa, and Sorghastrum nutans, Peonies and Irises

Photos of This with...

Lady's Mantle, Lyrical White Meadow Sage,
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30


© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!