About

This herbaceous perennial features erect stems adorned with blue-green foliage arranged in sets of three. The blooms are a deep purple-red, which mature into 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

0.5-1 metres

Spread

0.5-1 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Prairie planting

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