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A member of the Pea family (Fabaceae), Baptisia australis recalls the cultivated lupin in its foliage and flowers, but is more robust, more distinguished and largely untroubled by pests – much better suited to use in urban public sites than its highly-bred, aphid-ridden cousin, though still not planted as widely as it deserves. Besides the blue-indigo flowers produced around midsummer, the plant’s main feature is its voluminous, blue-green foliage, which lasts from late spring to autumn.
Growth begins in mid-spring, as multiple grey-green stems rise, tightly packed at soil level, but spreading and branching into a mass of durable trifoliate leaves. Inflated seed-pods are produced in late summer, persisting on the plant through the winter, making a striking combination with the frost-blackened leaves. The plant associates very well with grasses and is a classic component of the naturalistic planting style.
Seed-grown plants can vary in habit, so it is worth seeking out appropriate selections. Arguably, most useful for city sites are upright forms capable of withstanding even strong winds (hybrids with Baptisia alba also often result in this habit). The stems of such plants often begin to branch c. 30cm above soil level, making them ideal for combination with lower-growing perennials.
Originating in the deep, rich soils of the North American prairies, all Baptisia species require a reasonable depth of substrate. In established plants, the penetrating tap-root confers significant drought-tolerance, though – as with many other deep-rooting species – growth may appear initially slow before a distinct gear-change is noted in subsequent seasons (larger pot sizes are worth considering). Hardy to -20°C, plants prefer an open site. Slug damage to young stems is possible, but it is rarely a problem since plants produce a number of shoots, which become more fibrous and less palatable as they mature.
The shorter ‘Nachthemel’, a selection from De Hessenhof, has vibrantly deep purple flowers. The striking yellow-flowered species Baptisia sphaerocarpa is also useful, available mainly in the form of the upright cultivar ‘Lemon Meringue’, Hans Hansen’s selection from a cross with Baptisia alba var. alba.
By Martin Deasy, a UK-based horticulturist and landscape designer. Originally published in the Jul/Aug 2025 edition of FloraCulture International.
