Baptisia Sandstorm

8 Guests

3 Bedrooms

2 Bathrooms

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The most floriferous of the Prairieblues™ selections.

Not only is this one of the most floriferous hybrids we have developed, it also pushes the boundary for color with its distinctly bicolored, light sandy-yellow flowers with violet markings that fade as the flowers age. From a distance, the flowers appear tan in color. The inch-wide blossoms are held well above the foliage on inflorescences as long as 24”. Plants bloom for three weeks commencing in mid-May (USDA Zone 5). Distinctly vase-shaped in bloom, the foliage continues to expand until the plants are broad-rounded mounds, densely foliaged to the ground. ‘Sandstorm’ is a second-generation B. australis × B. bracteata hybrid.

Cultural Details

TYPE

Perennial

U.S. NATIVE

YES

Light:

Full sun
Soil:

Moist, but well-drained, fairly adaptable to many soils
Moisture:

Drought tolerant once established
Hardiness Zone

4-9
Bloom Time:

Summer
Bloom Color:

Pale yellow to brownish-red
Fruit Time

Fall
Fruit Color

Gray
Size:

4' tall by 5.5' wide
Diseases & Pests:

False indigos exhibit good to excellent disease resistance. A seed weevil will predate the seed, but this does not detract from either plant health or display value. The genista broom moth caterpillar (Uresiphita reversalis) can seriously defoliate plants of Baptisia, but this tends to be more of a problem in warmer climes.

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What Makes Me Special?

A profusion of flowers that begin creamy yellow and age to dusty-rose in a brilliant blend of colors.

Landscape Use

Borders, foundations, mass plantings, matrix plantings, naturalized gardens, commercial plantings

Origin

The Prairieblues™ false indigos were developed by Jim Ault, Ph.D., at the Chicago Botanic Garden from crosses made between 1999 and 2004. The selections were developed from crossing Baptisia albescens (formerly B. alba), B. australis var. australis, B. australis var. minor, B. bracteata (formerly B. leucophaea), B. sphaerocarpa, and B. tinctoria in various c ombinations. All parent plants and selections were grown in-ground at the Chicago Botanic Garden (USDA Zone 5b) during the breeding and selection process.