False Indigo

Baptisia 'Solar Flare' SOLAR FLARE PRAIRIEBLUES™ Fabaceae

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Location

Houston and Grossman Ponds

Source of plant

Klehm's Song Sparrow Perennial Farm, Sooner Plant Farm, Avant Gardens, North Creek Nurseries, Horticultural Associates

Description

A selection from open-pollinated seed collected from a complex hybrid of Baptisia [[tinctoria x alba] x australis] developed by Dr. Jim Ault at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois. This plant boasts a striking upright, vase-shaped habit at its base with a dense broad head above. Extremely vigorous, a mature plant will produce over 100 stems. The exposed lower stems and foliage remain an attractive blue-green all summer. The plant covers itself in inflorescences 12" to 18" in length, which are held well above the foliage. Flowers initially open a pleasing lemon-yellow color, taking on a unique orange blush with age. This is the only Baptisia selection to date with such colored flowers. Flowers begin to open in late May, with peak floral display two weeks later. Mature plants measure 3' to 4' tall and 4' to 4 1/2' wide. The emerging stems in spring exhibit an attractive purple color as long as night temperatures are cool.

USDA Hardiness Zone

4