Indigo, Blue Wild (False)

Baptisia australis

Blue wild indigo is a native, perennial legume, growing from 3-5 feet in height that can be found growing in upland prairies and bordering riparian areas where it can receive full sun due to its intolerance of shade. Its deep roots and nitrogen fixating abilities allow it to tolerate drought conditions and poor soils. The purple flowers can be seen in bloom from May-June before giving way to inflated seed pods containing many loose seeds. When mature, these pods sound like rattle boxes and were often used by Native American children as toys. Unpalatable to many grazers due to its alkaloid content, this species is known to cause some dietary issues to cattle and horses when consumed in high amounts.