White Wild Indigo- Baptsia alba
AKA- White Baptsia, White False Indigo
Its native range is widely distributed mainly on the Eastern side of the US from the North to the South - North Florida/Texas
White Wild Indigo has white, pea-like flowers in erect clusters. Velvety, trifoliate leaves turn from bluish-gray to black in the fall. A bushy plant with smooth leaves and white or cream-colored pea flowers in straight clusters. Clusters of large, black seedpods can remain attached to to the dried stems in winter.
White Wild Indigo is a legume, which means it has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It's long roots make it hard to transplant, but also a robust addition to your butterfly garden. The seeds germinate easily (cold stratification recommended, but not necessary), and the plants grow very quickly to 2-4ft, however you should not expect your first blooms for 3 years.
This plant has been shown deadly to livestock, and can show toxicity in humans, if consumed... don't eat it.
Days to germination |
14-21 days |
Days to maturity |
3 years |
Life cycle |
Perennial |
Plant time |
Fall, or cold stratify wet or dry for 8 weeks and plant in Spring |
Spacing |
18- 24 inches in well drained soil |
Sun |
Full sun |
Soil temperature |
at least 70 degrees |
Optimum soil P.H |
not over 6.8 |
Height |
2-4 feet |
Harvest |
Summer and early fall |