False indigos are a popular North American native perennial once used as a source for blue dyes. The Baptisia collection at the Garden consists of around 56 individual taxa represented by over 2000 plants. Consisting of both cultivated varieties and wild-collected species, Baptisia can be seen blooming in vibrant blues, purples, yellow, and white throughout spring and into early summer. Complex hybrids have been created between Baptisia species, resulting in more than 50 cultivars available in the nursery trade. The Garden is endeavoring to collect all eighty-seven taxa of false indigos in the coming years, and will continue to seed bank these accessions in the Dixon National Tallgrass Seed Bank.
Institutions
Chicago Botanic Garden
