June’s Native of the Month: Baptisia australis
The perennial Baptisia australis, with the common name blue false indigo, is June’s native of the month at Wellfield Botanic Gardens. B. australis is native to most of the eastern United States. The genus name comes from the Greek word meaning “to dye” (from the prefix bapto) coming from its origins of being used as dye, in substitution for true indigo. Baptisia are members of the fabaceae (legume) family. All baptisia can fix nitrogen into the soil, a common characteristic of legumes. This native is a shrub-like plant, reaching up to a height of 3 to 4 feet. B. australis does best in dry and well drained soil with full sun, but they can grow in shade, although they may need more structural support and can be less full in size. This native is pretty versatile and can do well in zones 3 to 9. Along with its versatility, Baptisia are also an attractive perennial.
The foot-long flower stalks can appear in May and June (pictured above) and last just under a month. The flowers are a beautiful blue-purple color that are followed by seed pods that turn black as they age. The seed pods (pictured below) are a great source of food for local wildlife. Birds such as the black capped chickadee eat the seeds from Baptisia. The plant also provides cover for birds and other wildlife. The wild indigo duskywing and the eastern tailed blue are common butterflies that use blue false indigo as a host plant, laying eggs on the plant that result in the caterpillars relying on baptisia for survival.
Native to our area of Elkhart, Indiana and the greater region of the eastern United States, Australis is an eye-catching plant for most of the year, including the spring and summer for its foliage and flowers, and the fall for its seed pods. Here at Wellfield Botanic Gardens we hope to showcase the importance of native species on the ecosystem with the series of the native plant of the month. This perennial would be a great addition to your own yard due to its versatility and resilience. Watch out for next month’s featured plant and in the meantime, visit Wellfield and look for B. australis throughout the Gardens, more specifically in our Waterfall Garden and along our West Promenade.
Ariana Guerrero
Horticulturist
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