The Decadence® group of cultivars of false indigo were bred for different flower colors and a dense compact form. They are members of the bean family (Fabaceae). False indigos are long-lived with a deep taproot making them drought-tolerant but difficult to transplant. They will grow in average, moist to dry, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. The plant is bushy and multi-stemmed making it a heavy bloomer. The blue-green leaves are attractive all season providing interest in the garden from spring through frost. Flower stalks are held erect on sturdy stems. Deadheading is not necessary. Use this plant as a specimen, in the perennial border or pollinator gardens and naturalized areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems, but moths sometimes eat the foliage. VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum More information on Baptisia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Attractive blue-green foliage. Compound leaves have groups of 3 leaflets alternating up the stem. Leaflets are elliptical to obovate, 1.5 inches long by 3/4 inch wide