Baptisia Australis

Baptisia australis is one of our good dependable blue perennials. Plants are available or one may grow them easily from seeds sown in late fall or the very early spring.

The plants grow to a uniform height. If they are spaced thickly in the row, they make a pleasing hedge to form a background for such things as Hemerocallis, pink Penstemon grandiYorus or yellow Iris. It is a leguminous herb and has nice green leaves on well-branched plants growing 40 inches or more high. I have mine in full sun where they thrive wonderfully well but some authorities recommend partial shade.

Baptisia is commonly called False- or Wild-indigo. B. australis has showy spikes resembling Lupines in rich indigo blue. These cut well. After the blossoms are gone, the plants are still valuable for vases because the foliage is ideal when other foliage is lacking. The seed pods are short and plump, many to a stem, that turn black upon maturing. These may be used in winter bouquets.

Can you think of any other plant that can be used as both a specimen plant or a quick-growing erbaceous hedge - that will grow in sun or shade - have both blossoms and foliage ideal for vases as well as having material for winter bouquets? Best of all it is free of disease and insect pests and requires no special soil or care.