Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) is a striking prairie native known for its tall spikes of deep indigo-blue, pea-like flowers in late spring to early summer.
 
The blooms attract bumblebees and other large native bees that are strong enough to access the flowers’ nectar and pollen. After flowering, decorative charcoal-black seed pods develop and often persist into fall, adding seasonal interest. As a member of the legume family, Blue Wild Indigo helps improve soil by fixing nitrogen. Its shrubby form and blue-green foliage create a strong structural presence in sunny plantings. This long-lived native is both beautiful and highly valuable for pollinators and wildlife.