Baptisia, or false indigo, is a garden favorite for its brilliant spring blossoms and endurance. Baptisia, a native North American perennial, beautifies perennial beds and borders and sustains local animals and biodiversity.
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Easily cared for and hardy in many climes, Baptisia plants add color and charm from late spring to fall.
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This guide will help you grow and manage these natural wildflowers for years, whether you're a novice or a seasoned gardener trying to add low-maintenance beauty to your outdoor space.
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Flowers resemble pea blooms and hang loosely from 12- to 24-inch spires. Wild species like B. australis and B. alba are confined to blue, purple, and white. Recent hybrids, like Proven Winners' Decadence® series, come in bright yellow, pink, blue, and bicolors.
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No matter what time of year it is, but plants will do better and need less water if you put them in early spring or wait until the weather gets cooler in the fall.
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Depending on maturity spread, 3–4 feet apart. Plants take years to mature, so don't crowd them. Once established, baptismias have thick roots and are hard to move.
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Baptisia isn't invasive, but its deep root system makes it hard to remove. True invasive plants hurt the environment in a new environment, but Baptisia does not.
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Deadheaded baptismias rarely rebloom and don't form beautiful seedpods. As with shrubs, you can trim plants by a third in midsummer to shape them. Avoid severe trimming and let your plants go to seed for seedpods. Fall pruning is unnecessary for Baptisia.
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