Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' (25) plants
Common name: False Indigo-Blue.
Zones 4 to 9.
Full sun to part shade.
Plants reach 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.
Growth rate: Slow, Easy to grow.
Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' is a distinctive perennial that produces enchanting smoky violet flowers with a purple eye on strongly upright, charcoal-grey stems up to 1.5 feet long. They are held just above the dense, bushy mounds of grey-green foliage from mid to late spring. Mature plants of 3 to 4 years can bear over 50 blooming stalks.
Baptisia grows best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade. If grown in too much shade, plants may require staking. Baptisia is easily grown in poor to average soil that is well-drained. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant because of its tough, deep taproot. This perennial native may take a couple of seasons to become established, but is very long-lived once mature. Avoid disturbing established clumps.
'Purple Smoke' is a naturally occurring hybrid of Baptisia alba and Baptisia australis. Baptisia australis is native to the prairies of North America, so it is easy to grow and will thrive with little maintenance. There are many potential applications in the landscape including meadow plantings, as a backdrop in borders, or as a specimen. Plants are very long-lived once established.
Though Baptisia is a large perennial, it can be grown in smaller gardens if maintained a bit differently. In early spring, set out a peony ring (circular wire stake) for the Baptisia to grow through. This will help it to grow more upright and take up less horizontal space. After the plant is finished blooming, prune it lightly throughout the season to keep its size in check. Seed pods may not develop in fall due to the pruning, but the flowers and foliage will be beautiful.
Excellent as a border plant, in mass plantings, for cut flowers, specimen or focal point and its salt tolerant. They can be dried for use in arrangements. Attracts butterflies and Deer resistant.
Shipped bare root. |
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