Baptisia × bicolor 'Starlite' (Prairieblues Series)

RHS Plant Profile

false indigo 'Starlite'

Synonyms

Baptisia 'Starlight Prairie Blues'

Herbaceous Perennial

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

An herbaceous perennial, forming a clump to around 1m high, with upright stems bearing leaves divided into three narrowly oval-shaped leaflets. Tall clusters of soft violet-coloured flowers touched with cream are produced in late spring or early summer, followed by dark grey seed pods

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Baptisia are perennials with branched stems bearing three-parted leaves and terminal or axillary racemes of pea flowers, followed by conspicuous inflated pods
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in deep, well-drained, preferably sandy soil in an open, sunny position. Plants can be slow to establish, and dislike being disturbed, but mature plants have good drought tolerance

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings. Hybrid cultivars will not come true from seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Prairie planting
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required, though plants can be trimmed back after flowering to maintain a compact shape, unless seed pods are required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free