Deciduous Perennial Upright, Vase-Shaped in the Fabaceae Family
Buy Purple Smoke False Indigo
Size
Notes
Price
Availability
One of the oldest false indigo hybrids in cultivation, with near-black stems and dense spikes of smoky violet flowers that can number over fifty per mature plant.
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' was selected in 1996 by Rob Gardner, longtime curator of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, from garden seedlings that turned out to be a natural hybrid of Baptisia minor var. aberrans and Baptisia alba. It's one of the earliest Baptisia hybrids still widely grown, valued for its striking near-black stems and dense spikes of smoky violet, purple-eyed flowers that can number over fifty on a mature clump. Gray-green, finely textured foliage forms a dense, upright, shrub-like mound over the growing season.
Pros
Near-black stems make a striking contrast with the smoky violet flowers
Very floriferous once mature, with over 50 flowering stalks possible
Long-lived and low-maintenance once established
Rabbit resistant
Cons
Can become leggy and need staking in partial shade or overly rich soil
Slow to establish and resents transplanting once its deep taproot forms
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
4a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags
Attracts Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Low Maintenance, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
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.
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!
North Shore Plant Club
