Wild Indigo (Baptisia leucophaea)
bap-TIZ-ee-ah leucophaea

Deciduous Perennial
 
Buy Wild Indigo
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $15.54

Cascading branches of cream-colored flowers. An elegant plant with smooth, waxy leaves and lovely pea-blossom clusters.

Baptisia leucophaea, also known as cream wild indigo, is a North American native perennial distinguished by its unique cream-colored flowers. In late spring to early summer, Baptisia leucophaea produces showy, pea-like blooms in soft, creamy shades of yellow and white. These fragrant flowers are arranged in loose, open clusters atop sturdy 2-3 foot stems. The plant's trifoliate, blue-green leaves provide an attractive backdrop to the graceful flower display. As the blooms fade, they give way to distinctive, inflated seed pods that mature to a dark brown or black color. Baptisia leucophaea has a spreading, mounded growth habit, typically reaching 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide at maturity. This drought-tolerant and deer-resistant perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a versatile choice for prairie plantings, meadows, and naturalized areas. With its unique flowers and structural form, Baptisia leucophaea is a stunning addition to native plant gardens.

Pros

  • Long-lived perennial native to the Midwest, well-adapted to Chicagoland's climate and local ecosystems
  • Attractive foliage and pollinator-friendly flowers
  • Drought tolerant

Cons

  • Slow to establish: may not reach full size or bloom heavily until 2-3 years
  • Mature plants 3-4 feet tall and wide may overwhelm smaller garden spaces
  • Deep taproot makes it hard to move once planted, so choose where you want them wisely
  • Seed pods may be messy
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Dry -
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Native to North America, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
Flower Color Cream
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!