eastern wild indigo
ExplorePlants
eastern wild indigo
Baptisia tinctoria
Eastern wild indigo is a beautiful plant with tall stems and bright yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and is loved by butterflies and bees!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The eastern wild indigo is a bushy plant with attractive blue-green, clover-like leaves. Its bright yellow, pea-like flowers bloom in spikes above the foliage, later forming distinct dark gray to black, rattle-like seed pods.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusBaptisia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Eastern wild indigo plants can live for over 20 years!
Its dark seed pods sound like tiny maracas when dry.
People once used this plant to make a natural blue dye!
Special caterpillars, like the Indigo Duskywing, eat only its leaves.
Special abilities
Ability
Soil Power-Up
Eastern wild indigo can 'fix' nitrogen from the air into the soil, helping itself and other plants grow strong.
Ability
Drought Buster
This plant has a very deep taproot that helps it find water far underground, even during dry spells.
Ability
Seed Spreader
Its dried seed pods rattle when mature, which helps the plant scatter its seeds over a wider area.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-120 cm
- Spread
- 60-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Its flowers provide important nectar.
eats
Indigo Duskywing
Aethalura intertexta
Its larvae exclusively feed on Baptisia leaves.
eats
Two-spotted Oakworm
Sphingicampa bicolor
Its caterpillars also feed on the foliage.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
False IndigoYellow Indigo
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is eastern wild indigo?
60-120 cm
How wide does eastern wild indigo spread?
60-90 cm
How big are the flowers on eastern wild indigo?
1-2 cm
When does eastern wild indigo bloom?
Summer
Is eastern wild indigo edible?
No
Is eastern wild indigo toxic?
Mild
What is eastern wild indigo's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is eastern wild indigo pollinated?
Insect
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