False Indigo
(Baptisia australis)

False Indigo is easy to grow in average, dry, well drained soil in full sun.  In the wild, it flourishes in limestone and dolomite glades, rocky prairies and fields.  There are many stands in Rocky Point Glade in Swope Park in addition to the plantings in the butterfly garden at Lakeside Nature Center.

When the flowers have faded, the plants are covered with dark brown seed pods.  The early settlers used the foliate as a substitute for indigo to dye their cloth.

False Indigo is a member of the bean family.