Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Burgundy Blast False Indigo: Wine Purple and Shrub-Sized
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Burgundy Blast false indigo brings an unusual color to the family: dark wine-purple flowers that lean redder than typical purple false indigos, on spikes 8 to 12 inches long over very dark blue-green foliage. The flowers hold their dark color through bloom rather than fading.
It grows into a full, rounded mound three to three and a half feet tall and wide, large enough to stand in for a shrub. It likes the same sun and lean soil as lavender, and its dark leaves make a rich backdrop for silver lavender mounds.
Burgundy Blast at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Baptisia 'Burgundy Blast' |
| Flowers | Dark wine purple with a burgundy tone, spikes 8 to 12 inches |
| Foliage | Very dark blue-green, three-parted |
| Size | 36 to 42 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks early June, about two weeks of color |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
A shrub that dies back each winter
Many lavender gardens need something taller behind the lavender to give the bed height and a backdrop. A shrub is the usual answer, but Burgundy Blast does the job as a perennial. It fills out into a shrub-like mound by early summer, holds its dark foliage all season and then is cut back or left with its pods for winter. No pruning saw required.
The bloom comes in late May and early June, just before lavender opens, so the wine-purple spikes lead straight into the lavender's purple. After bloom, the near-black blue-green leaves make lavender's silver foliage stand out for the rest of the summer. Place it behind the lavender, not between plants, since its width would crowd them. Try it in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Pick a permanent spot. A deep taproot makes it drought tolerant and long lived, but established plants do not like being moved.
- Soil: lean to average and well drained.
- Water: regularly the first season; very little afterward.
- Patience: it takes two to three years to reach full size.
- After bloom: leave spent spikes to form dark seed pods.
- Fall: cut back in late fall, or leave the pods for winter interest.
Serious problems are rare. Leaf spot or powdery mildew occasionally appear, and weevils may damage the developing pods.
Cut and dried
Burgundy Blast rates well as both a cut and a dried flower. The dark seed pods on their stems are a striking addition to dried lavender arrangements. False indigo is considered toxic if eaten, so keep pods away from children and pets.
Ordering format
Burgundy Blast is offered as a bare root plant. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really burgundy?
It is a dark wine purple that leans redder than most purple false indigos. It is deeper and warmer than lavender's purple.
Does it need staking?
It forms a full, sturdy mound. Lean soil and full sun keep it upright.
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