Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight': Buttery Yellow False Indigo for Southern Gardens

Overview

Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' is a spectacular hybrid false indigo with 45 cm spires of buttery yellow flowers in late spring and beautiful blue-green foliage. Tough, exceptionally drought-tolerant, and extremely long-lived, it's the southern substitute for lupines.

Botanical Description

Upright, clump-forming perennial 60–90 cm tall and wide. Trifoliate leaves are blue-green, attractive all season. Flowers are pea-like, buttery yellow, in dense racemes 45 cm long, blooming late spring. Inflated black seed pods follow, adding late-season interest.

Taxonomy

Genus:	Baptisia
Cultivar:	'Carolina Moonlight'

Noteworthy Characteristics

• Buttery yellow flowers + bluish foliage = standout.
• Very hardy, long-lived, drought-tolerant.
• Native hybrid (U.S. native parentage).
• Adaptable, easy to grow.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Full sun only.
• Soil: Most any well-drained soil.
• Moisture: Adaptable; drought-tolerant.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 4–9.

Care and Maintenance

Shear or trim foliage after flowering to avoid staking. Divide in late fall or early spring. Does not come true from seed.

Garden Uses

Borders, cottage gardens, meadow gardens, native plantings. Companions: ornamental grasses, coneflowers, salvias.

Quick Reference

Height:	60–90 cm
Spread:	60–90 cm
Growth Pace:	Moderate
Bloom Time:	Late Spring
Flower Color:	Yellow
Tolerance:	Drought Tolerant