About

Baptisia australis var. minor is a herbaceous perennial characterized by its upright stems adorned with blue-green foliage arranged in groups of three. The flower buds start off creamy white, transitioning to a muted pink as they open, eventually giving way to black seed pods.

About the genus

Baptisia are perennial plants characterized by branched stems that support trifoliate leaves. They produce racemes of pea-like flowers either at the ends of the stems or in the leaf axils, which are succeeded by noticeable inflated seed pods.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Exposed
UK hardiness
H7

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Prairie planting
Native to
S & C USA

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in a well drained humus rich soil
Pruning
Cut down once foliage has blackened with frost
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or propagate by division in early spring
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
Generally disease- free