I purchases this last spring as a tiny plant. I thought I bought 'Purple Smoke'. But I thought Purple Smoke had purple stems! Could it be the plant just isn't old enough yet?

Baptisia 'Purple Smoke':

This is a natural hybrid of Baptisia australis and B. alba, discovered by Rob Gardner of the N.C. Botanic Garden.

http://hoffienursery.com/index...

This should be grown by method of tissue culture or division in order to retain the hybrid features.

http://www.ag3inc.com/PlantDet...

It is possible that your plant was grown from seed, if the hybrid makes seed, in which case it could have reverted to one of the parents which looks like Baptisia australis. The other option is, you got sent Baptisia australis, it wouldn't be the first time nurseries sent out the incorrect plant. Nice plant anyway!

Baptisia alba has white flowers which are smaller. Because of the possibility of the plant being grown from seed if it was indeed from Purple Smoke, all you can say is you have a Baptisia sp. unless you can confirm from the supplier they actually sent B. australis or another hybrid as the case may be.

More info on Baptisia ..

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/HLA/Dun...

Thank you for that good info!

I agree it is a nice plant either way. I purchased it from Bluestone. I sent them an email. They are superb so I know they will figure it out.

My only quandary is that Bapstisia can get large. I only have limited space. They don't transplant. So if it is simply australis and they send a replacement I would have to sacrifice this one. I guess I will have to tear up some lawn and make a new bed!

It does transplant!
I have this plant in my garden, bought as False Indigo/Baptisia australis. I moved it some years ago when we put a small pond into our backyard. It came back nicely the next year and it is blooming right now.

Good to know some one has successfully moved it!

Bluestone is sending a replacement in the fall. Gives me time to prep a new space!