Common Name:

white wild indigo

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Baptisia alba

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Form:

flower

Size:

2-5 ft tall by 2-4 feet wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

green, black

Phenology:

winter dormant; flowers March-May

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Treat as a small shrub or use as a background plant in a wildflower garden. Can make a nice but tall border plant. Its flowers are more visible if planted against something that gives them contrast such as a dark fence. Assets  include its long racemes of white flowers and its leafy, rounded foliage.

Considerations:

Toxic to livestock and humans.

Availability:

Propagation:

Seed (scarification beneficial but not required) or division of roots at the crown. Not tolerant of root disturbance once its root system has become established, so best planted as seed or small potted plant where is to remain. Requires several years to reach maturity. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH:

acidic to circum-neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A

Wildlife:

Deer and rabbits browse the foliage, and as a legume it provides nutritious, protein-rich food.

Larval host for wild indigo duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) and Zarucco duskywing (Erynnis zarucco) butterflies. Pollinated by bumble bees.

Native Habitats:

Sandhill

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This plant is a legume and its roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules on them. It is useful on nutrient poor soils.