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Baptisia alba (Linnaeus) Ventenat. Thick-pod White Wild Indigo. Phen: May-Jul; Jun-Oct. Hab: Dry woodlands, pine flatwoods, roadsides. Dist: C. NC south to n. peninsular FL, west to AL and MS.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: B. lactea is a western sibling, treated as either a species or a variety. In fruit, it is easily separated from B. albescens and most other Baptisia by its nearly spheroidal legume. B. alba and B. albescens have been nomenclaturally confused; Isely (1986a) corrects the application of the epithet ‘alba’.

Synonymy : = Fl3, WH3; = Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. var. alba – K1, K3, K4, SE3, Isely (1998); = Baptisia albescens Small – S13; = Baptisia lactea (Raf.) Thieret var. obovata (Larisey) Isely – C, Isely (1981), Mendenhall (1994a), Mendenhall (1994b), (by implication); = Baptisia lactea (Raf.) Thieret var. pendula (Larisey) B.L.Turner – FNA11.1, Turner (2006a); = Baptisia pendula Larisey – RAB; >< Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. – S; > Baptisia pendula Larisey var. obovata Larisey – Larisey (1940a)

Links to other floras: = Baptisia lactea var. pendula - 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 : 9

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plantno rights reserved, uploaded by Becky Dill source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plantno rights reserved, uploaded by Becky Dill source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Baptisia alba, Riverbend Wildlife Management Area, South Unit, Laurens County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Baptisia alba, Riverbend Wildlife Management Area, South Unit, Laurens County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Baptisia alba, Big Slough Park, Flint River, Decatur County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 2-3 ft.

plant sale text: This choice southeastern native perennial is attractive throughout the growing season. The young leaf and flower buds appear in spring on long, charcoal-grey asparagus-like stems. Its elegant snow-white flowers are very effective in the garden. Throughout the spring and fall, White Wild Indigo is a shrub-like low mound of textured foliage. Once established, it is a beautiful, drought-tolerant and long-lived perennial.

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native range: NC, SC, GA, FL & AL