Baptisia albescens

Common Names

False Indigo, Spiked White Wild Indigo

Summary

Baptisia albescens, commonly called Spiked White Wild Indigo, is an erect native herbaceous perennial in the Fabaceae growing 2–4 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide. It features three-parted leaves that turn black when dried and spikes of white pea-like flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by copper to yellow seed pods appearing July–October. A deep taproot makes it drought-tolerant and difficult to transplant; native habitat includes woodland borders and open woods, tolerating dry woodlands, pine flatwoods, and roadsides.

Sun-loving and tolerant of drought and poor soils, including clay, loam, and sand with acidic to neutral conditions, it blooms May–July and serves as a larval host for butterflies while attracting pollinators; it is deer resistant with generally few disease or pest issues. Propagation can be by division, stem cuttings, or seeds; suitable for native, pollinator, or drought-tolerant landscape plantings and hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3–10; all parts are poisonous to humans.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-4 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Partial Shade to Full Sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

Below 6.0 up to about 8.0, acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Black

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, stem cuttings, and division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, Attracts other pollinators