Baptisia 'Purple Smoke'

The 2-3' spikes of dusky-purple flowers of this Rob Gardner wildflower selection make a wonderful display in the late spring-early summer border; 3' clumps with gray stems and blue-green foliage are both heat and drought tolerant. S/M-D/GDr

'Purple Smoke' is a chance hybrid of B. alba and australis, combining the smoky grey stems of the former with the violet blue flowers of the latter. Blooms in late spring on plants that grow 36-40" tall and easily as wide. Plants are drought resistant once established.

Dusky purple spikes on dark dusky stems mingle with soft green foliage in summer. A wonderful perennial and a tough one, it is deer-resistant and tolerant of clay and shallow rocky soil. Plant them and butterflies will come. 4' x 4' Ships when dormant. Minimum temperature: -20°F

A serendipitous discovery of a chance seedling in a trial bed at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in the early 1990s, 'Purple Smoke' is a hybrid between B. australis x B. alba which features smoky violet, lupine-like flowers (from B. australis) and gray-green, clover-like foliage on charcoal stems (from B. alba), its flowers appear in mid-spring, If not deadheaded, the flowers form 2.5" long seed pods which have good ornamental interest. Attractive foliage remains effective throughout the growing season. All Baptisia species are native to the United States. They are easily grown and best in full sun in acidic, average or low fertility soils, since they are legumes and able to fix nitrogen from the air. They are quite drought tolerant as they develop a large taproot and therefore are difficult to transplant once established. This also means they are usually quite long-lived. Plants tend to open up after flowering and may need support as the summer progresses. Foliage may be cut back after flowering to form compact bushy plants which remain attractive for the remainder of the growing season without staking but you'll lose the showy seed pods if this is done. Plants usually take 3 years to establish, but are one of the easiest perennials from then on.

Aptly named, dusty purple, pea-like flowers are born on a charcoal-green stem, more pronounced in age. Drought tolerant and tough.