Plant of the Week 10/19/2018

Plant of the week:

Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis) - Zone 3-9

This violet spiked pea-like flower is a deer resistant perennial and is a native wildflower. It is also adaptable to a wide variety of soils and should be planted in partial to full sun. The blooms can reach four feet tall and appear in late spring to early summer.

Fun fact: Baptisia australis is a member of the Pea family. As a member of the Pea family, it is capable of nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation is a process that, with the help of a special bacteria (Rhizobium), that lives on its roots and can pull nitrogen from the air and convert it into a usable form of nitrogen for the plant to then absorb.