Baptisia alba var. macrophylla - White False Indigo

Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (synonyms B. leucantha, B. lactea) is a particularly elegant white false lupin. Taller than other Baptisias, this form has even more elegant foliage, resembling large light silver-green clover leaves. In late spring, its slender flowering spikes appear, elegant, with dark stems that create a beautiful contrast with the small white pea-like flowers. Its robust stump takes a little time to establish, but the plant becomes extremely sturdy afterwards. In the garden, place it in a large flower bed or with small shrubs.

Baptisia alba var. macrophylla belongs to the legume family. This large-leaved form of white Baptisia is native to Missouri. It grows spontaneously in meadows, light woods, clearings, disturbed areas, and along river banks throughout the state of Missouri. Anchored by a strong stump, this perennial shrub generally reaches 1.50m (5ft) in height and 90cm (35in) to 1m (3ft) in width. Its growth is very slow at first, as the root system needs to establish itself before vegetation takes off. It is not uncommon for only one to three shoots to emerge from the ground, late in spring, during the first 2-3 years of cultivation. The foliage consists of leaves divided into 3 ovate leaflets, each measuring up to 7.5cm (3in) long. Light green in colour, they are covered with a fine hairiness that gives them a bluish and silvery hue. The deciduous foliage is absent in winter. Flowering occurs between late May and early July in our climate. It takes the form of tall inflorescences that extend well beyond the foliage. The sturdy flower stalks bear floral spikes that reach 30cm (12in) in length. The white flowers, resembling lupins but smaller, are loosely arranged on the spike. The flowers give way to swollen pods measuring 4cm (2in) long. They become very dark brown when ripe and are quite decorative in dried bouquets. The white false indigo attracts and hosts numerous insects: bumblebees are attracted to the flowers, and they are the main pollinators of this plant. The foliage shelters the caterpillars of certain butterflies. Like all legumes, this Baptisia helps enrich the soil it grows in. It is able to develop and flower abundantly in poor soils. Excessively fertile soil will favor the production of shoots and foliage at the expense of flowering.

Baptisias are close relatives of lupins, which are much better known and used in Europe. But they are more perennial, much less demanding in terms of humidity, and have a much less stiff, infinitely more natural appearance. A true all-terrain plant, the white false indigo will find its place in a country garden, a garden without irrigation, or in natural areas. It is also useful for decorating a degraded plot of land, which often surrounds a recently built house. Its bare stems laden with fruits form an interesting persistent structure in winter. It looks superb alongside other Baptisias of different colours, Indigofera gerardiana, grasses (Panicum). It also pairs well with purple toadflax or hybrid mulleins.

The vernacular name 'False Indigo' comes from the use that some Native American peoples made of these dye plants. Indeed, they provide colouring pigments comparable to those of true indigos (of the genus Indigofera), but of lesser quality.