This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. (WGHP) β€” The flowers are blooming, and the ...

Understanding the Context

When I was first learning about plants as a teenager while working at a garden center in Massachusetts, one of the first plants that really grabbed my attention was lupine. I loved the tall flower ... Blue provides a feeling of calmness and coolness. Finding plants with blue flowers creates a challenge.

Key Insights

There are several perennials and annuals available with blue, or hints and tones of ... Commonly known as false indigo, baptisia is a rugged native prairie plant that features tall spires of colorful blooms along with attractive blue-green foliage. The flowers resemble those of peas or beans, which are in the same plant family. False indigo, commonly called wild indigo, is a native, thus non-invasive, herbaceous perennial plant in the legume family with pea-like flowers. It develops black seed pods that can be left on the plant for winter interest.

Final Thoughts

Members of the Fabaceae or pea family, false indigo flowers' distinctive pea-like blossoms also come in white (Baptisia alba) and yellow (Baptisia tinctoria) as well as the more widely known blue (Baptisia australis). There are also several hybrid cultivars on the market today. Baptisias, also known as false or wild indigos (Baptisia spp.), are a group of large, long-lived perennials. They provide an extended season of interest from flowers and foliage. The botanical name Baptisia originates from the Greek word bapto, to dip or to dye. Baptisia plants are deer-resistant ornamental members of the pea family, most with blue-green foliage, topped by magnificent stalks of flowers in early spring.

We are pleased to present a wide selection of the best sun garden species, as well as some of the most amazing hybrids you'll ever see.