False indigo (Wild blue indigo)

Baptisia australis

North American prairie native with deep blue lupine-like flower spikes in late spring. Long-lived and architectural — a permanent garden feature once established.

Hardiness ratings

False indigo (Wild blue indigo) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–9 −40 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–9 −34 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Deep taproot — do not transplant once established; sites for life
  • Long lived (decades) and exceptionally drought tolerant
  • Major host plant for several Lepidoptera species

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check False indigo (Wild blue indigo) against your zones

Reference

False indigo (Wild blue indigo) on Wikipedia