Baptisia

This is the best-known species of Baptisia--a treasured North American native wildflower that blooms in early summer, and has a confusing name. Wild Indigo, a closely related species, has yellow flowers, but the stems yield a pale blue dye, thus the name. This one actually has blue flowers, but none of the group has ever been very successful in coloring, the name notwithstanding.

Today, this beautiful wildflower, though quite common in many areas, is rare in others. It is threatened which means quite rare, in Maryland and Indiana, and actually officially listed as endangered in Ohio. But in Texas, for example, its one of the most persistent flowering wild plants, even through severe droughts and endless baking summers. Baptisias are great for xeriscaping, the practice of creating gardens that need very little watering. And they're great plants for the wildflower collector.

The other Wild Ones: Other native species of Baptisia have yellow, or even pinkish-purple blooms. In recent years, the hybridizers have been at work creating several beautiful new versions of this native favorite.