Species White Wild Indigo
white flowers with green leaves and stems

White Wild Indigo

Baptisia lactea

White Wild Indigo is a perennial flowering plant native to the United States. It is a part of the legume family, and its bell-shaped white and yellowish-green flowers appear in clusters from spring to summer. This plant can reach a height of 4 feet and will happily grow in sunny spots. It is a drought-tolerant, low maintenance plant and does well in average soil. White Wild Indigo is deer-resistant and perfect for butterfly gardens. Plant a few of these stunning beauties to add dimension and color to your landscape.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,gray,gray

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Ideally, Hooker's Balsamroot should be watered once weekly when the soil is somewhat dry. When watering, it is best to water the plant deeply so that the water reaches the root system. The water should penetrate the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, ensuring that the entire root system is saturated. Avoid overwatering, which could lead to root rot. It is important to avoid saturating the foliage as this could lead to damage or fungal infections. Additionally, providing adequate drainage when planting is essential to prevent waterlogged soil and root rot.

sunlight

Hooker's Balsamroot prefers full sun, meaning 6 or more hours of sunlight per day. Generally, it should be planted in south- or west-facing areas with ample exposure to the sun. However, it is tolerant of some shade, given that it still receives direct sun for 3 – 4 hours a day. Its ideal season for growing is late spring, beginning around April, when its vivid yellow flowers emerge and when the amount of available sunlight is more consistent. It tends to be drought tolerant, making it easier for this sun-loving plant to thrive.

pruning

Hooker's Balsamroot should be pruned once per season in late autumn or early winter, after the plant has finished flowering. Pruning should remove any damaged, dead, or weaker stems, as well as any excess stems that crowd the plant’s center. For any stems that remain, cut them back to just above the ground level to help encourage new growth. Pruning should only remove up to a third of the total stems to ensure the plant stays healthy.

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.