White False Indigo
White False Indigo is a marvel among prairie plants. Its growth cycle begins in spring when a slender purple stem emerges from the ground. By late June it has transformed into a beautiful, five foot flowering perennial. Architectural spikes …
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
|---|---|
| Soil Moisture | Medium, Moist |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Partial |
| Height | 3' - 5' |
| Bloom Color | White |
| Bloom Time | June, July |
| Spacing | 3' |
| Hardiness Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Root Type | Taproot |
| Benefits | Pollinators, Host Plant, Deer Resistant |
| Seeds per Oz | 1600 |
| Propagation Treatment | Moist Stratification, Rhizobium, Scarification |
| Days to Moist Stratify | 30 days |
| Direct Sowing Time | Fall |
White False Indigo (Baptisia alba) is a marvel among prairie plants. Its growth cycle begins in spring when a slender purple stem emerges from the ground. By late June it has transformed into a beautiful, five foot flowering perennial. Architectural spikes bearing columns of white blooms arise from a base of gray-blue foliage - all elevated on sturdy forked stems.
Individual plants are very long-lived, but young transplants can take up to four years of development before they are full grown and producing flowers. The plant has a deep taproot and does not respond well to being moved, so site them carefully. Mature plants can be quite large, with a leafy growth diameter up to four feet wide. Bumblebees are frequent visitors, and this Baptisia is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies including the Black-Spotted Prominent, Wild Indigo Duskywing, Frosted Elfin, and Hoary Edge butterflies.
