Baptisia Species, Yellow Baptisia, False Yellow Indigo

I found some Baptisia sphaerocarpa plants growing wild in a field off of Rte. 50 in E. Orlando, FL. and I dug up 3 plants and planted the...Read Morem in my garden late this spring. However at that time I didn't know what they were or even if they were annuals or perennials. So when they went to seed I grabbed a bunch of the seed pods and threw the seeds in one area in my garden. Low and behold they sprouted within weeks and I just attained another batch of seeds pods this week.

Once again not knowing if they were annuals or perennials, I pulled up all the remains of what I believed were annuals that were dying and kept many their seed pods. If it wasn't for receiving the "Plant Delights Nursery" catalogue this week I would never had know what I had or that I had actually removed perennials from my garden. Thankfully I kept lots of seedpods which contain many seeds in each pod for planting next spring!

All I can say is Baptisia sphaerocarpa don't seem very soil fuzzy, don't require much water, but need good drainage and are essentially very easy to grow ---{mine were over 6t tall with nature providing all their water & care}--- they have beautiful yellow Lupine like flowers and would make a wonderful addition towards the back of anyone's garden.

I planted this about six years ago. It's not supposed to be hardy in Calgary (Zone 3b), and it struggled at first but has come back ever...Read Morey year. We had a good summer this year and it doubled in size to about 2 feet tall and wide. I haven't had any blooms so far but I'm hoping maybe next year :). I also have a blue false indigo (baptisia australis) which is much hardier and has done very well.

EDIT: May 2016 and it's over the hump! It bloomed last year for the first time and is about to bloom again. Still smaller than my blue false indigo, but it grew close to three feet tall last year and looks great.

I started this plant from seed, once in the fall and once in late spring. Both times I soaked the seeds overnight in very warm water and...Read More planted in good potting soil.

About 50-60% germination.

Baptisia sphaerocarpa is native to Louisiana.

Self-colonized in a very old garden in full sun. Glorious when in bloom, no maintenance, no problems. Also called Yellow Wild Indigo.