or one of its hybrids in gardens around Oklahoma or in garden books and magazines. It is easy to grow... lightly moist, well-drained soil and full sun to light shade make it happy. It will, however, tolerate poor soils and has good drought tolerance. It slowly forms an attractive, vase-shaped form containing leaves comprised of three leaflets. The plant develops a large taproot... once established it does not like being disturbed.
I have to admit the bloom period is not very long... but gardeners know that is often the case with perennials. The pea-like flowers compensate for that by being exceptionally attractive, by appearing on tall terminal spikes, by attracting butterflies and other insect pollinators and by being followed by very interesting seed pods. Plants grow about three feet high and as wide. The flower spikes can reach 15 inches.
There are several Baptisia hybrids on the market these days and some of them are very attractive. But none exceed the beauty of the original... commonly called False Indigo.
