Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Blueberry Sundae False Indigo: Deep Blue Spikes Before Lavender
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Blueberry Sundae false indigo carries upright spikes of pea-shaped flowers in a deep, saturated indigo blue, more vivid than the common blue false indigo. The bloom is strong and even over a dense mound of blue-green leaves, and dark seed pods follow for fall interest.
It is a long-lived, deep-rooted perennial that likes the same sunny, lean ground as lavender, and its timing is what makes it special: it blooms just before the lavender starts.
Blueberry Sundae at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Baptisia 'Blueberry Sundae' |
| Flowers | Deep indigo blue spikes, 8 to 12 inches long |
| Foliage | Deep blue-green, three-parted leaves |
| Size | About 3 feet tall and wide at flowering; mature clumps can reach 3.5 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks early June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
A relay race of blue and purple
Late May into early June, Blueberry Sundae opens its indigo spikes while the lavender beside it is still building buds. As the false indigo fades, the lavender takes over in June and July. Planted together, the bed stays in blue and purple from late spring well into summer without a gap.
After bloom, the blue-green foliage stays clean and full all season, acting as a calm backdrop for the lavender's flowers and later for its silver foliage. Because mature clumps get wide, place it behind or at the end of a lavender row, not squeezed between plants, so the lavender keeps its airflow. Try layouts in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Choose the spot once. A deep taproot makes established plants drought tolerant and also makes them dislike being moved.
- Soil: lean to average and well drained, the same as lavender.
- Water: regularly the first season; little after that.
- Patience: plants take two to three years to reach full size. A modest first year is normal.
- After bloom: leave spent spikes to form pods, or shear lightly to keep the plant compact.
- Fall: cut back in late fall, or leave the dark pods standing for winter interest.
Problems are few. Leaf spot or powdery mildew can appear now and then, and weevils sometimes damage the developing pods.
Cutting and drying
The spikes rate well as cut flowers, and the seed pods rate well for drying. Pods on their stems make an interesting dark accent in a dried lavender arrangement. Note that false indigo is considered toxic if eaten, so keep the pods out of reach of curious kids and pets.
Plug tray or bare root
Blueberry Sundae is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and as a bare root plant. Bare root suits a single specimen in a home garden; the tray suits growers and larger plantings. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from regular blue false indigo?
Its flowers are a deeper, more saturated blue, and the plant is more compact and upright when it flowers, which fits smaller gardens better.
Do deer eat it?
Deer generally avoid it.
Is it edible?
No. It is an ornamental and is considered toxic if eaten.
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