Baptisia tinctoria

Common Names

Wild Indigo, Horseflyweed, Yellow Wild Indigo, Rattleweed

Summary

Baptisia tinctoria is an upright, shrubby perennial native to eastern North America. It typically grows 2–3 ft tall and wide from a deep taproot in a clumping habit, with gray-green trifoliate leaves and late spring to early summer clusters of bright yellow pea-shaped flowers; seed pods turn black and rattle when ripe, and the plant is drought-tolerant and long-lived, making it a distinctive feature in native or naturalized plantings and a draw for pollinators. Cultivation emphasizes full sun to light shade on well-drained soils; it tolerates dry to average moisture and poor soils, is slow to establish from seed, and should not be disturbed to preserve clumps. After bloom, light trimming maintains form. Uses include ornamental and wildlife landscapes, cottage gardens, prairies, and meadows; it is a nitrogen-fixing plant that supports caterpillars and attracts bees and butterflies, and has historical dye value (blue dye from leaves, yellow dye from flowers). It is generally pest-free, deer-resistant, and hardy in USDA zones 3a–9b; deep roots aid soil stabilization.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-5 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun to Partial Shade; grows best in full sun or light shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, neutral to slightly acidic, textures ranging from sandy to loamy

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, Neutral to slightly acidic soil

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Dark blue-green to light yellow-green

Fall Foliage Color

Gray/Silver Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth; slow to establish, with significant size gains in the second and third year.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators