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Baptisia albescens Small. Narrow-pod White Wild Indigo, Spiked Wild Indigo. Phen: May-Jul; Jun-Oct. Hab: Dry woodlands, pine flatwoods, roadsides. Dist: Se. VA (e. MD?) south through NC, SC, and GA to n. FL, e. AL and e. TN.

ID notes: The fruits are unlike any of our other species in being cylindric, about 3× as long as the diameter, and yellowish-brown (rather than black) when mature.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl3, K1, K3, K4, SE3, Tn, Va, WH3, Isely (1998); = Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. – C, F, FNA11.1, G, RAB, S13, Tat, W, Isely (1981), Mendenhall (1994a), Mendenhall (1994b), Turner (2006a), misapplied; > Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. – Larisey (1940a); > Baptisia albescens Small – Larisey (1940a); >< Baptisia albescens Small – S

Links to other floras: = Baptisia alba - FNA11.1

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of dry, open woodlands and woodland borders, pine flatwoods and roadsides.

Stems: Stems 1-several from a crown, stout, unbranched, blue-green to gray-purple and with a waxy coating, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, the petioles with small stipules at the base, divided into 3 elliptic leaflets with rounded tips, each 1/2-2 1/2 in. long.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in 1--several long, erect, terminal spikes extending above foliage; white or cream with yellow; less than ¾ in. long; bilaterally symmetric; with typical pea-flower shape, including an erect "banner" petal.

Fruits: Fruit an erect, yellowish-brown and leathery, narrowly cylindrical seed pod.

Comments: The similar Baptisia alba has larger flowers (about 1 in. long) and a thinner-walled, blue-green, nodding seed pod.

Height: 2-3 ft.

plant sale text: Another excellent native perennial for your sunny garden. This white flowered Baptisia blooms in Spring and is a magnet for bees. Sturdy stems hold spikes of creamy white flowers which will, after their nature, mature into green pea pods. The pods then dry light brown on the stem, rattling as the seeds within dry. This plant is considered poisonous. Easy plant to grow, give it a home that is permanent as members of this genus do not like to be moved once planted. This genus supports up to 15 species of lepidoptera.

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of dry, open woodlands and woodland borders, pine flatwoods and roadsides.

stems: Stems 1-several from a crown, stout, unbranched, blue-green to gray-purple and with a waxy coating, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, the petioles with small stipules at the base, divided into 3 elliptic leaflets with rounded tips, each 1/2-2 1/2 in. long.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in 1--several long, erect, terminal spikes extending above foliage; white or cream with yellow; less than ¾ in. long; bilaterally symmetric; with typical pea-flower shape, including an erect "banner" petal.

fruits: Fruit an erect, yellowish-brown and leathery, narrowly cylindrical seed pod.

comments: The similar Baptisia alba has larger flowers (about 1 in. long) and a thinner-walled, blue-green, nodding seed pod.

cultural notes:

germination code: 3

native range: southeastern United States