Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'
false indigo 'Purple Smoke'
A clump-forming, deciduous herbaceous perennial with green leaves on almost black stems and grey-purple pea-like flowers which appear on long, upright stems from April until June. The seed pods and stems provide winter interest if not cut back in the autumn
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Black | Purple Grey Silver | Green | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Black | Purple Grey Silver | Green | |
| Autumn | Black | Green | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming, Columnar upright
- Genus
Baptisia are perennials with branched stems bearing three-parted leaves and terminal or axillary racemes of pea flowers, followed by conspicuous inflated pods
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in open, porous, preferably sandy soil in full sun; drought resistant once roots have penetrated the soil. Best left undisturbed, although vigorous clumps may be carefully divided in spring
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or propagate by division in early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Prairie planting
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
- Banks and slopes
Pruning
Cut down once foliage has blackened. Can leave over winter for stem and seed-pod interest
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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