White False Indigo, False Indigo
Baptisia pendula
Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae
What it is like
Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer. Form: Upright or erect.
Baptisia pendula is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.6 m (2ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf from May to October, in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1
Where it is found
Not known
South-eastern N. America.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 2
A blue dye is obtained from the leaves. It is an indigo substitute but a lot of leaves are required for even a little indigo.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Massing, Specimen. Prefers a deep, well-drained neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun. Grows freely in a loamy soil. Shy flowering in British gardens. Plants have a very deep root system and dislike root disturbance, they should be left alone once they are established. This species might be no more than a synonym for Baptisia alba var. alba. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. Special Features:Attractive foliage, North American native.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water and then sown in a cold frame in late winter or early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer or following spring. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 3-9
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
The plant is potentially toxic.