You’ll be impressed with the excellent vigor of this yellow flowered selection. It forms an upright, vase-shaped mound of attractive blue-green foliage topped with long, charcoal stems which carry the lemon yellow flowers in late spring to early summer. The contrast of dark stems with light flowers really pops in the landscape, delivering an excellent floral display. Ornamental seed pods extend the season of interest into fall.
Baptisia is easy to grow and will thrive with little maintenance. There are many potential applications in the landscape including meadow plantings, as a backdrop in borders, or as a specimen. Plants are very long-lived once established.
The roots of the DECADENCE® series run deep. What started as a fun botanizing trip in the lower Midwest with a fellow horticultarist blossomed into a complex hybridizing project for breeder Hans Hansen. Hans has made countless crosses with the many native Baptisia species he has collected across Texas and Oklahoma. These crosses have resulted in an array of seedlings with unique flower colors and plant habits. Only the very best have made it into the new DECADENCE® Series, which includes varieties selected for their desirable flower colors and shorter, more compact habit.
The DECADENCE® trademark is owned by Walters Gardens, Inc.
Height:
3.0 Feet
Spread:
3.0 Feet
Hardiness Zones:
4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color:
Yellow/Gold Shades
Foliage Color:
Green shades
Sunlight:
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Water Requirements:
Low Water Needs Average Water Needs
Soil Quality:
Poor Soil Quality Average Soil Quality
Soil Chemistry:
Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
Bloomtime:
Late Spring Early Summer
Attracts Wings:
Attracts Butterflies
Critter Resistant:
Deer Resistant
Seasonal Interest:
Dried Seed Heads
Growth Rate:
Medium
Garden Style:
Cottage Eclectic Prairie Rain Garden
Other Features:
Border Plant Cut Flower Cut Foliage Dried Flower Drought Tolerant Easy To Grow Salt Tolerant Specimen Focal Point
Origin:
Native to North America
Baptisia grows best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade. If grown in too much shade, plants may require staking. Baptisia is easily grown in poor to average soil that is well-drained. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant because of its tough, deep taproot. This perennial native may take a couple of seasons to become established, but is very long-lived once mature. Avoid disturbing established clumps.
ISU Evaluation of New Perennials -- 2012
Colorado State University "Top Performer" Perennial -- 2012
Proven Winners National Landscape Perennial of the Year -- 2026
The genus name Baptisia comes from the Greek word bapto, meaning to dip, referring to its use as a substitute dye for indigo. The common name for Baptisia, False Indigo, also refers to this practice.
From the Fabaceae Family, or the Bean or Pea Family.
Tantalizing Trivia: Baptisia australis was the first ever subsidized agricultural crop in America.
Height:
3.0 Feet
Spread:
3.0 Feet
Hardiness Zones:
4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color:
Yellow/Gold Shades
Foliage Color:
Green shades
Sunlight:
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Water Requirements:
Low Water Needs Average Water Needs
Soil Quality:
Poor Soil Quality Average Soil Quality
Soil Chemistry:
Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
Bloomtime:
Late Spring Early Summer
Attracts Wings:
Attracts Butterflies
Critter Resistant:
Deer Resistant
Seasonal Interest:
Dried Seed Heads
Growth Rate:
Medium
Garden Style:
Cottage Eclectic Prairie Rain Garden
Other Features:
Border Plant Cut Flower Cut Foliage Dried Flower Drought Tolerant Easy To Grow Salt Tolerant Specimen Focal Point
Origin:
Native to North America
Baptisia grows best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade. If grown in too much shade, plants may require staking. Baptisia is easily grown in poor to average soil that is well-drained. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant because of its tough, deep taproot. This perennial native may take a couple of seasons to become established, but is very long-lived once mature. Avoid disturbing established clumps.
ISU Evaluation of New Perennials -- 2012
Colorado State University "Top Performer" Perennial -- 2012
Proven Winners National Landscape Perennial of the Year -- 2026
The genus name Baptisia comes from the Greek word bapto, meaning to dip, referring to its use as a substitute dye for indigo. The common name for Baptisia, False Indigo, also refers to this practice.
From the Fabaceae Family, or the Bean or Pea Family.
Tantalizing Trivia: Baptisia australis was the first ever subsidized agricultural crop in America.