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Baptisia ‘Midnight’ (False Indigo)

False Indigo 'Midnight', Bastard Lupine 'Midnight', Blue False Indigo 'Midnight', False Lupine 'Midnight', Prairieblues Series

Baptisia Midnight,False Indigo Midnight, Bastard Lupine Midnight, Blue False Indigo Midnight, False Lupine 'Blue Mound', Prairieblues Series, blue flowers, blue perennials
Baptisia Midnight,False Indigo Midnight, Bastard Lupine Midnight, Blue False Indigo Midnight, False Lupine 'Blue Mound', Prairieblues Series, blue flowers, blue perennials

Noted for its long blooming season, Baptisia ‘Midnight’ is an upright perennial bearing a profusion of extremely long inflorescences, 24 in. (60 cm), bearing deep blue-violet flowers. Unlike most False Indigos, this plant has two bloom cycles within its blooming season. The first cycle produces long flower spikes up to 24 in. long in late spring. It is quickly followed by a second cycle, which produces blooms on secondary branches with inflorescences up to 5 in. long (12 cm), further extending its flowering season. Borne on gracefully arching branches, they last for up to 4 weeks and attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. When the flowers fade away, the lovely blue-green foliage, which forms a beautiful broad, rounded shrub, remains neat all season and creates a lovely backdrop for the other perennials in the garden. If left untrimmed, the plant forms interesting seedpods turning charcoal-black in the fall and persisting into winter. Bred at the Chicago Botanic Garden, this hybrid Baptisia is vigorous, tough, long-lived, and enjoys a long season of interest.

  • Blooming in late spring to early summer, it is an extremely valuable addition to the garden and its seedpods help create lovely winter decorations.
  • Spreads by underground rhizomes and typically grows up to 4 ft. tall and wide (120 cm).
  • Its requirements are fairly simple: Full sun in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Although it will grow in some shade, this plant tends to become leggy and may require staking. Tolerates poor soils and drought. Do not disturb once established as it develops a deep taproot that is easily damaged if you try to transplant it.
  • Baptisia is rarely bothered by deer as they consider it unpalatable and is rabbit resistant
  • Attracts scores of butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Not susceptible to pest damage or disease
  • Looks stunning in beds and borders, cottage gardens, prairies or meadows, and native plant gardens. Great as a specimen plant or in small groups.
  • Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or propagate by division in early spring.
  • Trimming foliage after bloom helps maintain a rounded plant appearance, but you will miss out on the attractive seed pods which are great to use in dried flower arrangements.
  •  If the seed pods are left over winter, they will produce little seedlings, but they are easy to pull out.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Leguminosae
Genus Baptisia
Common names False Indigo, Blue False Indigo
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 36" - 48"
(90cm - 120cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Clay Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Baptisia bracteata (Cream Wild Indigo)
Baptisia sphaerocarpa (Yellow Wild Indigo)
Baptisia alba (White Wild Indigo)
Baptisia ‘Vanilla Cream’ (False Indigo)
Baptisia ‘Pink Lemonade’ (False Indigo)
Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’ (False Indigo)

Recommended Companion Plants

Verbascum chaixii ‘Album’ (Nettle-Leaved Mullein)
Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ (Cranesbill)
Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus (Byzantine Gladiolus)
Allium cristophii (Star of Persia)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Leguminosae
Genus Baptisia
Common names False Indigo, Blue False Indigo
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 36" - 48"
(90cm - 120cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Clay Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Baptisia (False Indigo)
Not sure which Baptisia (False Indigo) to pick?
Compare Now

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