Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

Common Name: False Indigo

A naturally occuring hybrid of Baptisia alba and Baptisia australis, found by Rob Gardner, former curator of the North Carolina Botanical Gardens.

Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' is a distinctive perennial that produces enchanting smoky violet flowers with a purple eye on strongly upright, charcoal-grey stems up to 1 1/2 feet long. They are held just above the dense, bushy mounds of grey-green foliage from mid to late spring. Mature plants of 3-4 years can bear over 50 blooming stalks!

This cultivar seldom, if ever, produces seed pods in fall.

Baptisia australis is native to the prairies of North America, so it is easy to grow and will thrive with little maintenance. There are many potential applications in the landscape including meadow plantings, as a backdrop in borders, or as a specimen. Plants are very long-lived once established.

Height:

4.5 Feet

Spread:

3.0-4.0 Feet

Hardiness Zones:

4,5,6,7,8,9

Flower Color:

Purple shades

Foliage Color:

Green shades

Sunlight:

Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Low Water Needs Average Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Poor Soil Quality Average Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Bloomtime:

Mid Spring Late Spring

Attracts Wings:

Attracts Butterflies

Critter Resistant:

Deer Resistant

Growth Rate:

Slow

Garden Style:

Eclectic Prairie Rain Garden

Other Features:

Border Plant Cut Flower Cut Foliage Drought Tolerant Specimen Focal Point

Origin:

Native to North America

Baptisia grows best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade. If grown in too much shade, plants may require staking. Baptisia is easily grown in poor to average soil that is well-drained. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant because of its tough, deep taproot. This perennial native may take a couple of seasons to become established, but is very long-lived once mature. Avoid disturbing established clumps.

Fun Facts

The genus name Baptisia comes from the Greek word bapto, meaning to dip, referring to its use as a substitute dye for indigo. The common name for Baptisia, False Indigo, also refers to this practice.

From the Fabaceae Family, or the Bean or Pea Family.

Tantalizing Trivia: Baptisia australis was the first ever subsidized agricultural crop in America.

Characteristics