+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ## blue wild indigo {#blue-wild-indigo .Title-Header}                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| *Baptisia australis* (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. f.                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Plant Symbol = BAAU                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Contributed by: USDA NRCS Kansas Plant Materials Center

**Alternate Names**

blue false indigo, wild indigo, plains wild indigo, false indigo,
baptisia, plains baptisia, rattlepod, rattlebush, rattlebush wild
indigo.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Conservation:* It makes good ground cover in sunny locations because of
its bushy habit, extensive root systems and perennial life form. It is a
native legume, fixes nitrogen in the soil, and can be part of a good
wildlife seed mixture when native grasses and forbs are seeded.

*Cultural:* Presently, *Baptisia australis*, is grown by many as an
ornamental in outdoor flower gardens or as a decorative border. It has
become popular because it grows well in many areas outside its native
range when planted, does well without watering, requires no fertilizer
or pesticide treatments and needs no pruning. The pods have been used in
dried flower arrangements. When in bloom the brightly colored blue
flowers arranged in spikes make it very attractive. However, a bouquet
of fresh cut flowers does not last very long. The flowers and stems turn
black as soon as they begin to dry.

The Cherokees used the plant as a source of blue dye for their clothes.
Early pioneer settlers copied this practice. A common name, false
indigo, indicates it is not the true indigo plant (*Indigofera
tinctoria* L.) which was introduced from the India subcontinent and
cultivated for blue dye by many landowners during the early settlement
of America. Some Indian tribes used it for medicinal purposes. The Osage
made eyewash from the plant. The Cherokees would make a tea from it. A
hot tea was taken as a purgative and a cold tea to prevent vomiting. A
pulverized root or hot tea was held over a sore tooth to relieve the
pain. Indian children would use the dried pods with the loose seeds
inside as rattles.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values). This plant
is considered threatened in several states.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Blue wild indigo is a native, perennial, deep rooted warm
season legume which reproduces by seed or rhizomes. The leaves are
alternate and trifoliate. The plant is erect, rising from a branched
root system which has root tubercles. It branches at the top with the
flowers in an erect short terminal raceme at the pinnacle. The stems are
stout and glabrous. It may grow up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Normally, it is about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The flowers are
hermaphroditic, about 1 inch long and may range in color from light blue
to deep purple. The fruit is an inflated hardened pod from 1 to 3 inches
long and from 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter. When mature the pods contain a
number of small seeds, which are loose. Depending on the region it may
flower from April (in the south) through August (in the north). It is in
leaf approximately one month before flowering to one month after the
pods have formed. In the autumn when full maturity is reached the plant
turns silvery-gray, and breaks off from the root system at ground level.
The pods stay with the plant for some time while the wind tumbles it
around to a new location. The leaves and pods turn black upon drying.
When it is growing if a leaf is crushed or stem is broken the sap turns
a slate blue color when exposed to the air.

*Distribution*: It occurs from Nebraska to Texas on the west to the
eastern seaboard states. It reaches into Canada in its middle range and
New Hampshire is the extreme northeast area it occurs as a native. It is
rarely found near the Gulf or Atlantic coasts. For current distribution,
please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web
site.

Habitat: Larger populations can be found along tree lines, bordering
forested riparian areas and in open prairies or native hay meadows. It
does not grow well in shaded habitats. It prefers gravelly, sandy or
well-drained loamy soils. It withstands prolonged droughts. Like many
legumes it can fix nitrogen in the soil.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Blue wild indigo adapts to many areas outside its native habitat. It can
withstand freezing temperature extremes of negative 30 degrees
Fahrenheit for a short period without any ill effects. It grows between
USDA hardiness zones 3 to 10.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Once it has become established blue wild indigo will remain healthy for
several years. It requires a minimum of maintenance in a garden or
outside setting. It is not shade tolerant, so does not make a good house
plant. Herbicides used to control broad-leaf weeds will also kill this
plant. Care should be taken whenever a pesticide is used to ensure only
the targeted pests are affected.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

Parasitic weevils normally infest the seedpods in their native habitats.
Generally, it takes a large number of seeds when they are harvested from
a natural ecosystem to have any success at finding viable seeds.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

*Toxicity:* Some older poisonous plant literature has blamed *Baptisia*
species for killing cattle and horses. More modern literature documents
this genus as more likely to cause severe diarrhea and anorexia.
*Baptisia australis* contains several quinolizidine alkaloids including
anagyrine, cystinine, lupaninne, N-methylcystisine, rhombifoline,
sparteine, and tinctorine. Alkaloids have a bitter taste and make the
plant unpalatable for grazing animals. If other forage is available it
is unlikely any detrimental effects from *Baptisia* will be seen. No
poisonings of people or pets have been recorded. Recent German research
indicates some *Baptisia* species may act as stimulants to the human
immune system.

Blue wild indigo is unlikely to become weedy or invasive in most regions
or habitats and rarely displaces desirable vegetation.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

Collected seeds from plants growing in a native setting have an
extremely low germination rate due to predation by weevils. The pods
should be treated for insects before bringing them into a greenhouse or
the seeds sorted prior to bringing them inside. If these precautions are
not taken it is likely several dozen weevils will immediately escape
when the pod is opened. Like many other legumes it has a hard seed coat.
The seeds must be scarified if germination is to occur within an
artificial setting. Also, studies involving stratification and soaking
the seeds a full day prior to planting show more success than
scarification alone. The seeds normally germinate when the soil
temperature nears 50 degrees Fahrenheit. After seedlings emerge they can
be divided and further propagated.

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

USDA lists no named cultivars, or genetically improved varieties. There
are three recognized naturally occurring varieties of *Baptisia
australis* (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. f.:

variety *aberrans* (Larisey) M. Mendenhall

variety *australis*

variety *minor* (Lehm.) Fern.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government". The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

Allen, O.N.; Allen, E.K. 1981. *The Leguminosae. A Source Book of
Characteristics, Uses, and Nodulation.* The University of Wisconsin
Press, Madison, Wisconsin USA. Pp. 89-90.

Bailey, L.H. 1939. *The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture*. The
MacMillan Company, New York, New York USA. Volume 1 of 2, Pp. 453.

Baskin, C.C.; Baskin, J.M. 2002. *Propagation protocol for production of
container Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. F. plants*: University
of Kentucky, Lexington Lancaster Press, Inc., Lancaster, Pennsylvania
USA. Pp. 344.

Coffey, T. 1993. *The History and Folklore of North American
Wildflowers*. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York USA. Pp.
124., Kentucky. In: Native Plant Network. URL:
[http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org](http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/)
(accessed 15 July 2003). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of
Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery.

Britton, N.; Brown, A. 1936. *An Illustrated Flora of the Northern
United States, Canada and the British Possessions.* New York Botanical
Garden.

Denison, E. 1978. *Missouri Wildflowers.* Missouri Department of
Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri 65101 USA. Pp. 158.

Gates, F.C. 1941. *Weeds in Kansas.* Report of the Kansas State Board of
Agriculture. Volume LX No. 243. Topeka, Kansas USA. Pp. 223-224.

Freeman, C.C.; Schofield, E.K. 1991. *Roadside Flowers of the Southern
Great Plains*. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas USA. Pp.
147.

Gleason, H. A. 1952. *Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United
States and Adjacent Canada*. New York Botanical Garden. Lancaster Press,
Inc., Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA. Volume 2 of 3, Pp. 391-392.

Hamel, P. B.; Chiltoskey, M. U. 1975. *Cherokee Plants*. Pp. 40.

Hardin, J. W. 1973. *Stock-Poisoning Plants of North Carolina.* North
Carolina State University, Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No.
414 (Revised). Pp. 75.

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). URL:
([http://www.itis.usda.gov/)](http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TNS&search_value=26468))
(accessed 28 July 2003). United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C. USA.

Iverson, L.R.; Ketzner, D,; Karnes J. Illinois Plant Information Network
Database. URL at: (<http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/ilpin.html.)>
(accessed 15 July 2003). Illinois Natural History Survey and USDA Forest
Service.

Kindscher, K. 1992. *Medicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie.* University
Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas USA. Pp. 70-71.

Kingsbury, J.M. 1964. *Poisonous Plants of the United States and
Canada*. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey USA. Pp. 149.

Ladd, D. 1995. *Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers.* Falcon Press, Helena,
Montana USA. Pp. 36.

McGregor, R.L.; Barkley, T.M., et. al. 1977. *Atlas of the Flora of the
Great Plains*. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa USA. Pp. 166.

McGregor, R.L.; Barkley, T.M.; Brooks, R.E.; Schofield, E.K., et. al.
1986. *Flora of the Great Plains*. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kansas USA. Pp. 436-437.

Mohlenbrock, R.H. ed. 1975. *Guide to the vascular Flora of Illinois*.
Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, Illinois USA. Pp. 494.

National Genetics Resources Program (GRIN). URL at:
([http://www.ars-grin.gov](http://www.ars-grin.gov/)**/**) (accessed 28
July 2003). Database Management Unit of the National Germplasm Resources
Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute, Beltsville Agricultural research
Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland USA.

Native American Ethnobotany. URL at:
(<http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl>) (accessed 28 July 2003).
In: University of Michigan-Dearborn. Dearborn, Michigan USA.

Plants For A Future. URL at:
([http://www.ibiblio.org/)](http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/find_lat?ALL=Baptisia+australis))
(accessed 28 July 2003). Blagdon Cross, EX215DF, UK.

Phillips Petroleum Company. 1963. *Pasture and range Plants*.
Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74004 USA. Pp. 78.

Porter, C.L. 1967. *Taxonomy of Flowering Plants, 2^nd^ edition.* W.H.
Freeman and Company, San Francisco, California USA.

Steere, W.C. et. al. 1970. *Wild Flowers of the United States. Texas*.
New York Botanical Garden. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, New York
USA. Volume 3 of 3, Pp. 264-265.

Steere, W.C. et. al. 1973. *Wild Flowers of the United States. The
Central Mountains and Plains*. New York Botanical Garden. McGraw-Hill
Book Company, New York, New York USA. Volume 6 of 6, Pp. 396-397.

Stephens, H.A. 1980. *Poisonous Plants of the Central United States*.
The Regents Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas USA. Pp. 149.

Steyermark, J.A. 1963. *Flora of Missouri*. Iowa State University Press,
Ames, Iowa USA. Pp. 1725.

Stubbendieck, J.; Conrad, E.C. 1989. *Common Legumes of the Great
Plains.* University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska USA. Pp. 111.

USDA, NRCS, 2004. The PLANTS database, version 3.5
([http://plants.usda.gov]{.underline}). [National Plant Data
Center]{.underline}, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States. In: 2bnTheWild. URL at:
(http.//2bnTheWIld.com) (accessed 15 July 2003).

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

##### *Patrick J. Broyles*, Soil Conservationist

USDA, NRCS, Kansas Plant Materials Center, Manhattan, KS

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

##### *Patrick J. Broyles*, Soil Conservationist

USDA, NRCS, Kansas Plant Materials Center, Manhattan, KS

##### Edited: 14jan04 jsp; 31may06 jsp {#edited-14jan04-jsp-31may06-jsp .Header-4}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*