General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Tolerates drought and poor soils. Over time, plants form slowly expanding clumps with deep and extensive root systems, and should not be disturbed once established. Plants take on more of a shrubby appearance and tend to open up after bloom. Trimming or shearing foliage after bloom helps maintain rounded plant appearance and obviates any need for staking, but eliminates some of the developing seed pods which are so attractive.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Baptisia sphaerocarpa (see A769 herein), commonly called false indigo (or yellow wild indigo) is an upright, mounded perennial that is noted for its pea-like yellow flowers, rounded seed pods and trifoliate foliage. The current range of this species appears to be Louisiana to Texas north to Missouri and Oklahoma, however it is not clear that it is indigenous to all of these areas. This plant was apparently introduced a number of years ago into certain prairie areas and along certain railroad tracks in five Missouri counties, and accordingly is not considered to be a native Missouri taxon (Steyermark). 'Screamin' Yellow' is particularly noted for its profuse bloom. It typically grows to 2-3' tall with a mature spread to 5' wide. Showy, pea-like, bright yellow flowers in erect racemes (to 12-15" tall) bloom in late April-May atop yellow-green flower stems that rise well above a foliage mound of clover-like green (perhaps tinged with yellow) leaves (leaflets to 2" long). Flowers give way to inflated spherical seed pods (to 3/4" diameter) that turn tan/brown when ripe and have considerable ornamental interest. Stems with seed pods are valued additions to dried flower arrangements.