Lemon Meringue is a vigorous yellow false indigo that forms an upright, vase-shaped mound of blue-green leaves. In late spring and early summer, long charcoal stems carry lemon yellow flowers, and the contrast of dark stems and bright blooms really stands out.
It grows three to four feet tall and, once mature, spreads into a broad vase five to six feet wide; it was one of the top-rated baptisias in a multi-year public garden trial. Ornamental seed pods extend interest into fall. It is long lived, drought tolerant once established and deer resistant.
What it looks like
Long, upright spikes 10 to 12 inches of pea-shaped flowers in soft lemon yellow, carried on dark charcoal gray stems above the foliage. Leaves are three-parted with oval blue-green leaflets. The plant is an upright, vase-shaped mound 36 to 46 inches tall, widening with age to 5 or 6 feet across. At peak bloom lemon yellow spikes on dark stems rise from the blue-green mound.
Growing it with lavender
Lemon Meringue thrives in the same sun and lean, well-drained soil as lavender, and its lemon yellow spikes make a cheerful contrast that blooms just ahead of the purple lavender.
Care
Plant in full sun to part shade in lean to average, well-drained soil; the deep taproot makes it drought tolerant once established. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9. Choose a permanent spot, since established plants do not like to be moved; expect a couple of seasons to settle in, and cut back in late fall or leave the seed pods for winter interest.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Baptisia
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Flower color: Lemon yellow
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Foliage: Blue-green
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Growth habit: Upright, vase-shaped mound
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Mature size: 36–46 in tall × 5 ft–6 ft wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 4–9
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Light: full sun, part sun to part shade
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Bloom start: Late-May
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Peak bloom: Early-June
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Bloom pattern: Single Flush
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Deer resistance: Resistant
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Pollinator value: Great
Sizes and shipping
Dormant bare-root plant, sold in boxes of 25 per variety (order in multiples of 25). Bare-root plants ship or are picked up March 1–May 31 only. They are soil-free, so they may ship to every state in that window. Dormant plants often show little or no top growth on arrival; plant or heel them in promptly.
Lavender companion · grow guide
Community Grower Report
