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White Wild Indigo

Baptisia alba

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Category
Forb / Wildflower
Sun
Full to Partial
Soil moisture
Medium-Wet to Dry
Bloom time
Jun–Jul
Bloom color
White
Notes
Legume

About White Wild Indigo

White Wild Indigo is a majestic and long-lived perennial that brings a sense of structure and timeless beauty to the native prairie garden. This shrub-like herb grows 2 to 4 feet tall, featuring clean, blue-green trifoliate leaves and striking, upright spikes of pure white, pea-like flowers in early summer. The blooms are followed by ornamental charcoal-black seed pods that persist into winter, providing visual interest and forage for birds. Native to prairies and open woodlands, it is incredibly hardy and drought-tolerant once its deep taproot is established. It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil but is adaptable to various conditions. As a legume, it fixes nitrogen, benefiting the surrounding soil. It is a high-value plant for bumblebees and a host for several butterfly species, including the Wild Indigo Duskywing. Due to its deep root system, it is best to plant it in a permanent location. Seeds germinate best after scarification and cold stratification.

Native range

Native to 24 states:

AlabamaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNebraskaNew YorkOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasVirginiaWisconsin

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Baptisia alba

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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