A Magnificent Color-Changing Specimen

Luna Eclipse False Indigo, Baptisia, features majestic spires of color-changing flowers. The showy, upright, bicolor racemes emerge a light lemon-over-cream color and then age dramatically to hues of light blue-violet, icy-blue, and deep blue-lavender. The tall 15″ flower stalks create a lunar show when the plump, over-sized 1″ flowers display all the different hues at once. The densely packed flowers appear in late spring to early summer and are followed by ornamental dark seed pods. The pea-like flowers are attractive to butterflies and other important pollinators. This jewel has an attractive 3′ tall and wide vase shape habit and attractive foliage. Like all Baptisia, Lunar Eclipse False Indigo has a substantial presence in the garden.

Use in place of a shrub in the landscape or as a centerpiece in the garden. Due to its native Missouri plant heritage, this Baptisia easily grows in the St Louis, Missouri, area and will thrive with little maintenance. It matures into an incredibly full and bushy plant–a perfect substitution for shrubs if you’re looking for structure in the garden. Lunar Eclipse False Indigo has many potential applications in the landscape, including meadow plantings, as a backdrop in borders, and as a specimen. Plants are very long-lived once established. Its seed pods add considerable interest to dried flower arrangements.

Plant in full sun, at least 6 hours of sun a day. Due to its long tap root, carefully plan where to plant this beauty, as it does not like to be moved. Keep well watered until established, when plants are setting up buds and blooming, and during dry spells. Plants may be trimmed after flowering to tidy up appearance, but beware, attractive seed pods will be lost.