![]() ![]() Although "indigo" is in the common name, the blooms of native species may be blue, yellow or white and the blooms of newer hybrids may include lavenders and bi-colors. Members of the genus Baptisia are commonly known as wild or false indigo due to their use by early Americans as a blue dye. macrophylla and more recently Baptisia lactea. Taxonomists have been revising the nomenclature of this genus, and it is also listed as Baptisia alba var. Its refined appearance makes it equally at home in formal gardens. This is a valued and conspicuous plant of our native prairies. The flowers are followed by noticeable black pods. Showy spikes of white, pea-like flowers rise from the ends of the branches and bloom from late May into June. Just another reason to like white wild indigo.Įditor's note: Here is Katie Byerly's YouTube video about white wild indigo.White wild indigo ( Baptisia leucantha) grows quickly into a rounded, multibranched perennial with bluish, three-part clover-like leaves. On a windy day the dried plant will roll away like a tumbleweed, spreading its seeds as it tumbles. Like the seed pods, the whole plant also turns black as it dries up in the fall. (That's Prairie Dog near the bottom of the frame.)Īnother name for this species is rattlepod, because of the noise made when you shake a pod with seeds inside. Here is an image of the spike full of plump seed pods. In this image, you can see the green color as the pods begin to form. The Indigo plant grows into a bush-like structure, Once learned the plant is easy to identify by the leaves even before the flowers appear.Īfter the bloom, the seed pods begin to develop from the flower. They too are a fun greyish or blue green. Indigo leaves are compound in groups of three. It would really be great it white wild indigo had my favorite wildflower leaf type-clasping-or even better, perfoliated. In order to see the stamen, one needs to pinch the pea shaped flower open for a peek inside. It wasn't till I was researching indigo for my YouTube video that I realized that white wild indigo has an orange stamen. It really brings me pleasure to see the different ways this plant catches the sun. I enjoy the bright clean white petals in the shiny sunny mid-summer day but also gold pearl color at sunset. Perhaps it depends on the day and the lighting. I don't think I can fully describe the white of a white whild indigo flower petal. They are typical pea flowers and about 1" long." Quoting Illinois Wildflowers: "The white flowers occur in erect spike-like racemes up to 2' long and are quite showy. I love how the tubular bluish green calyx hold the pearly white petals. Both the waxy stem and calyx of the white wild indigo remind me of my favorite houseplants. I like to grown sedums and succulents at home. Here is another image of the Indigo towering over other plants in a restored county planting in Cerro Gordo County, IA. The plant typically grows to be 2 to 5 feet tall. In this image you can see how it stands out above other early summer forbs. I love the way it shoots up over other prairie flowers and grasses. ![]() Let me share a few reasons why this is one of my favorite wildflowers. I do know that whenever I see White wild indigo ( Baptisia alba macrophylla), I can't help but smile. What is your favorite wildflower? I enjoy so many that it's a hard question to answer. Katie is also known as Iowa Prairie Girl on YouTube. Katie Byerly shares another spectacular series of wildflower photos from northeast Iowa. ![]()
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