Baptisia bracteata aka Plains Wild Indigo

Baptisia bracteata belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. It is a perennial, which means it lives for years. People call it false indigo or longbract wild indigo. Kew gives its native range as the southeastern United States. Missouri Botanical Garden also notes wild plants across Missouri. It grows in open woods and on dry prairies. Other records place it in sandy woods in Texas. They also list pastures and roadsides in that state. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Garden plants grow about 2.5 feet (0.76 metres) tall and wide. The stems branch, with leaves set in an alternate pattern. Each leaf has three small parts called leaflets. Missouri Botanical Garden says the stems stand upright. Chicago Botanic Garden describes a mound with flower stems closer to level. The two accounts show some range in its form. Its branched shape suits a place among border plants.

Creamy white flowers open from May to June. Some blooms have a pale yellow tint. The flowers look like pea blooms and grow in clusters. These clusters have the name racemes. The blooms also look like those of lupines. Chicago notes that it blooms before many other baptisias. The flowers draw butterflies and make good cut flowers indoors. Dark seed pods, close to black, follow the blooms. These showy pods suit dried flower displays as well. Flowers and pods add interest at different times.

Grow it in full sun or part shade. Give it soil that drains well and dry to moderate moisture. It copes with poor soil, drought, and hot, humid summers. Sources list USDA hardiness zones 3–9. It needs little care and can stay undisturbed for years. Stems grown in shade may need support to stay in place. Sources report no serious problems with insects or disease. Keep it away from black walnut trees. Their juglone can harm this plant's growth. Use it in borders of perennials, prairie plantings, or wild gardens. It can stand alone or grow as a backdrop.

Plants For A Future lists no known edible uses. It warns that the plant may be toxic. It notes past uses of roots, leaves, and seeds as medicine. Those records do not show that home treatments are safe. The source also says the plant fixes nitrogen. Grow new plants from seed or divide them in spring. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame once it ripens. Soak stored seed in warm water before you sow it. Grow smaller divisions in pots before planting them out.