Indigo Plant

Indigo Plant (Baptisia australis) suffers from many common names such as False Blue Indigo, Rattlepod, Rattlebush, the aforementioned Indigo Plant and many others.

Generally in the garden this shrub-like legume will reach heights of three to four feet and two feet wide.

Extremely happy plants may explode up to five feet high and three feet in width.

When we refer to a plant as being a legume we are indicating its ability fix nitrogen in the soil.

Indigo plant has attractive blue-green foliage with tall flower spikes of indigo-blue flowers developing sometime between early to mid spring depending on the plants geographical location.

The sprays of black seed pods can be harvested and used in dried or fall arrangements.

Plant in full sun which is the best exposure for this native plant that develops a deep tap root making it tolerant of drought and heat.

Native Americans and early settlers used the foliage to make a blue dye and it even found favor when used as a medicinal.

The Native Americans would also harvest the seed pods which they used to make rattles.

If you choose to plant seeds we want to mention an effective pre-planting treatment that has proven effective for maximum germination and our hope is that you will try the following:

"Simply place the seeds in a drip percolator coffee pot then pour water in the reservoir as if you were brewing coffee, flip the switch to brew and allow the seeds to remain in the water overnight and then plant them."