By Ann Lapides
The fantastic Missouri native perennial, Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, brings stunning color and form to the landscape with showy racemes of pea-shaped indigo-blue flowers in late spring and early summer. Showy black seed pods follow the flowers and look fabulous in dried arrangements. Its ornamental blue-green foliage looks great all year and makes a stunning backdrop for other plants. Its exceptional performance and beauty have earned it top awards.
Wild Blue Indigo thrives in the Midwest. It is a carefree and easy-to-grow perennial that prefers full sun. It stands up to the St. Louis, Missouri, metro area’s kooky weather, including high heat and humidity and bitter cold winters. Wild Blue Indigo grows in most soils and thrives in clay and shallow rocky soil. Its long tap root makes it drought tolerant.Carefully plan where to plant this beauty, as plants do not like to be moved once established. A top plant to attract all kinds of pollinators.
Awards and Recognitions: 2026 Native Plant of the Year; Perennial Plant Association Perennial Plant of the Year; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant of Merit; Missouri Prairie Foundation Grow Native Pollinator Buffet program
Growing instructions: Plant Blue Indigo in sunny locations. Keep well-watered while it is getting established and during prolonged dry spells.
Find Wild Blue Indigo at Sugar Creek Gardens plant nursery located in Kirkwood, Missouri. Order online for easy nursery pickup. Learn more about Wild Blue Indigo at www.sugarcreekgardens.com.