Baptisia alba (L.) R. Br. var. alba

White Wild Indigo; White False Indigo

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

White Wild Indigo is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It occurs throughout most of Alabama. White Wild Indigo grows on floodplains, in hardwood or pine forests, in pastures, and on roadsides. It is a perennial from a crown with tough rope-like roots. One or more stems emerges from each crown. The stems are 2-3 feet in height, green or purplish in color, and glabrous. The stems are often glaucous. The stems are freely branched above the middle. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, trifoliate, and glabrous. The leaflets are elliptic to oblanceolate in outline, glabrous, with entire margins. Flowers are produced in an erect terminal raceme. The flowers are stalked, papilionaceous, and white in color. The fruit is a black inflated legume. White Wild Indigo is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a sunny location and is not particular about soil type. It can be used as a specimen plant or at the back of a perennial bed.--A. Diamond

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Native

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