False Indigo
Baptisia australis
False Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a perennial suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 36–48 in tall and 24–36 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to part. Shrub-sized perennial; lupine-like spikes; deep taproot makes it very drought tolerant once established.
low to medium water36–48 in tall and 24–36 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Baptisia australis
- Type
- Perennial
- Mature size
- 36–48 in tall and 24–36 in wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- full sun to part
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- blue, purple
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Pollinator value
- high
- Good for
- slope
Planting & establishment
Deep-water first season to establish, then minimal water needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is False Indigo good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. False Indigo is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a perennial suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does False Indigo get?
- It matures to about 36–48 in tall and 24–36 in wide.
- How much water does False Indigo need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is False Indigo native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
