Shearing plants normally eliminates
seedpods at the same time, although
reseeding usually doesn’t occur with
Baptisia, and the seedpods, which turn
black with maturity, are attractive and
useful in dried arrangements. Removal
of deadheads may not be desirable for
this reason, although plants may
flower more profusely the following
season if they are deadheaded. Foliage
blackens with heavy frost, and plants
fall over by mid-January or earlier
depending on weather conditions.
Still, I leave plants up for the winter. In
a more formal setting it may be
beneficial to cut Baptisia down after
several killing frosts, or in January
when falling occurs.
other maintenance Although
slow to establish, Baptisia is tough,
drought tolerant, and low mainte-
nance once it takes hold. It takes
low-fertility soils very well. It prefers
acidic soil but will tolerate higher pH
conditions. Plants are slow growing
and normally don’t require division for
10 years or more, unless the expanding
root system needs to be curbed.
Normally difficult to transplant,
Baptisia can be moved successfully if
given plenty of soil and the roots areundisturbed, especially when plants
are still relatively small. Personally, I
like to transplant in early spring, but it
can also be done in late fall. Good plant
for zone 8. If pruning is not desired but
plants require staking, peony hoops
placed over the plants in early spring
offer an easy solution.
related plantS The genus Baptisia
is undergoing a revolution. Using
genetic material from purple- and
blue-flowered species like B. australis,
white species such as B. alba, and
yellow ones like B. sphaerocarpa,
breeders are hybridizing new forms in
a myriad of flower colors. ‘Purple
Smoke’ (lavender) and ‘Carolina
Moonlight’ (light yellow) led the way,
followed by selections like ‘Twilite’
Prairieblues (purple and yellow),
‘Dutch Chocolate’ (chocolate-purple),
and ‘Cherries Jubilee’ (dusky rose-red
and yellow). Care is the same as for
straight B. australis. Most of the
hybrids, such as Baptisia × variicolor
‘Twilite’ Prairieblues, will mature in
the 3–4 ft. size range, although dwarf
forms like B. australis var. minor
‘Melissa Blue’ (2 ft. × 2 ft.) are occasion-
ally offered.Baptisia × variicolor ‘Twilite’
Prairieblues