Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

This false indigo hybrid (B. australis x B. alba) is a shrubby perennial which typically grows 3-4.5' tall. It was discovered as a chance seedling in a trial bed at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in the early 1990s. Features smoky violet, lupine-like flowers (from B. Australis) and gray-green, clover-like foliage on charcoal stems (from B. alba). Flowers appear in mid-spring, opening up from bottom to top in erect but slightly arching terminal racemes (to 1' long) which extend well above the foliage. Flowers give way to cylindrical, bean-like seed pods (to 2.5\ long) which have good ornam... more »

This false indigo hybrid (B. australis x B. alba) is a shrubby perennial which typically grows 3-4.5' tall. It was discovered as a chance seedling in a trial bed at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in the early 1990s. Features smoky violet, lupine-like flowers (from B. Australis) and gray-green, clover-like foliage on charcoal stems (from B. alba). Flowers appear in mid-spring, opening up from bottom to top in erect but slightly arching terminal racemes (to 1' long) which extend well above the foliage. Flowers give way to cylindrical, bean-like seed pods (to 2.5\ long) which have good ornamental interest and are sometimes used in dried flower arrangements. Attractive foliage remains effective throughout the growing season. All species of Baptisia are native to the United States. Baptisia australis was used by Native Americans to make blue dyes. The common name of false indigo is in reference to the fact that the dyes made from Baptisia are quite inferior to the dyes derived from the true indigos (genus Indigofera) which usually grow in more tropical areas such as the West Indies." (less)