Blue Wild Indigo

Baptisia australis

sparse purple flowers blooming vertically up a blue wild indigo plant
“baptisia” by Delaware Master Gardeners, via Flickr. CC BY 2.0.
set of many blue wild indigo plants
“Baptisia australis” by delirium florens, via Flickr. CC BY 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: host larval stages of several butterflies including Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Wild Indigo Duskywing, and more; supports songbirds, butterflies, and bees

Bloom period: early spring-summer

Best Areas for Planting: mid- to high moisture, full sun to part shade; well-drained soils of clay that can be acidic, neutral, average, poor, or contains lime

Natural Habitat: can be found in rocky areas along rivers and streams

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.