Common Name: False Blue Indigo
Type: Herbaceous annual
Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Eastern United States
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom color: Indigo Blue (blue-purple)
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Bumble bees, skippers, moths, many butterfly species and caterpillars.
False Blue Indigo is important for bumble bees and butterflies that can open or reach into the pea-like flowers and access the nectar. Another benefit of this plant is that caterpillars like its unusual blue-green foliage. The flowers form on racemes that are up to 12” long and extend above the foliage. Another interesting feature of this plant is that the flowers give way to inflated seed pods about 2 1/2 inches long which turn charcoal blue-black and they rattle. Stems with pods on them were once used by children as rattles. Today the stems with pods intact are often used as unique additions to cut flower arrangements. The common name refers to the use of this plant by early Americans as a substitute, albeit an inferior one, for true indigo (genus Indigofera of the West Indies) in making blue dyes.
False Blue indigo is easy to grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade and it can tolerate drought and poor soils. Over time the clumps will expand and it will create a deep and extensive root system that is best not disturbed. It can be grown from seed but it can take several years to become established. It may need staking or other support or it can be trimmed to maintain a mound like shape, however, trimming can eliminate the seed pods which make this plant so unique.
Horticulture Information:
Illinois Wildflower
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/bl_indigox.htm
Pollinator Information:
USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NY/technical/pmc/pollinator_plants_bfpmc.pdf
Type: Herbaceous annual
Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Eastern United States
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom color: Indigo Blue (blue-purple)
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Bumble bees, skippers, moths, many butterfly species and caterpillars.
False Blue Indigo is important for bumble bees and butterflies that can open or reach into the pea-like flowers and access the nectar. Another benefit of this plant is that caterpillars like its unusual blue-green foliage. The flowers form on racemes that are up to 12” long and extend above the foliage. Another interesting feature of this plant is that the flowers give way to inflated seed pods about 2 1/2 inches long which turn charcoal blue-black and they rattle. Stems with pods on them were once used by children as rattles. Today the stems with pods intact are often used as unique additions to cut flower arrangements. The common name refers to the use of this plant by early Americans as a substitute, albeit an inferior one, for true indigo (genus Indigofera of the West Indies) in making blue dyes.
False Blue indigo is easy to grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade and it can tolerate drought and poor soils. Over time the clumps will expand and it will create a deep and extensive root system that is best not disturbed. It can be grown from seed but it can take several years to become established. It may need staking or other support or it can be trimmed to maintain a mound like shape, however, trimming can eliminate the seed pods which make this plant so unique.
Horticulture Information:
Illinois Wildflower
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/bl_indigox.htm
Pollinator Information:
USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NY/technical/pmc/pollinator_plants_bfpmc.pdf