Blackstemplants

Photo: © Jelitto

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Baptisia alba

White false indigo

If you've tried growing lupins and failed miserably then try the Baptisia genus. 

It's a relative of the lupins but much easier to grow - if you have a little patience. Slow to get going but once established a very long lived and trouble free plant. 

Baptisia is an American native with a large root system designed to get the plant through extreme drought, so once planted leave it alone to develop . 

It's not prone to insects or disease and planted alone as a focal point or mid to back border, its lupin-like flowers are a talking point and attract butterflies. 

The smokey purple stems appear almost black at times accentuating the 30cm long pristine white flowers. Its decorative black pea-like seed pods droop from the stems hence pendula.

£ 6.50

Family

Plant type

Hardiness

Height

Spread

Foliage

Flower

Soil

Position

?

Fabaceae

Hardy perennial

H7

100cm 

50cm 

Blue green 

Brilliant white 

Well drained, loam, sand 

Full sun