description False Indigo Overview
False indigo usually refers to Baptisia, a genus of perennial legumes native to North America. Species form upright clumps with trifoliate leaves, pea-like flowers, and inflated seed pods; the flowers are commonly blue, white, yellow, or purple depending on the species. Baptisia can fix atmospheric nitrogen through root symbiosis with bacteria, and it is grown as an ornamental in sunny, well-drained sites.
help False Indigo FAQ
What is False Indigo?
False indigo usually refers to Baptisia, a genus of perennial legumes native to North America. Baptisia plants form upright clumps with trifoliate leaves, pea-like flowers, and inflated seed pods.
What colors do False Indigo flowers have?
Baptisia flowers may be blue, white, yellow, or purple, depending on the species. They are arranged on upright stems and resemble the flowers of other pea-family plants.
Why is Baptisia called False Indigo?
Some Baptisia species contain blue pigments that historically suggested indigo, but they are not the commercial indigo plant Indigofera tinctoria. The common name distinguishes the resemblance from the true source of indigo dye.
What do False Indigo seed pods look like?
After flowering, Baptisia develops inflated pods containing seeds. These darkening pods remain ornamental and help identify the plant after the flowers fade.
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