wild indigo
© Rick Peterson / Great Plant Picks
© Rick Peterson / Great Plant Picks
This vigorous and tough perennial is named for the vibrant smokey violet-blue and purple flowers that stand lupine-like above the plant on strong charcoal colored stems. The flowers and stems contrast beautifully with the bright grey green leaves that form a dense bushy mass below. It is easy to grow and will thrive with little maintenance and is very long-lived and drought tolerant once established
Plant Type: perennial
Growth Habit: upright
Foliage Type: deciduous
Plant Height (10-year): 3 ft. 0 in. (0.91 meters)
Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 2 ft. 0 in. (0.61 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4 to 8
Flowering Time: spring-summer
Sun/Light Exposure: full sun
Water Requirements: drought tolerant when established
Seasonal Interest: spring flowers, summer-fall seed pods
Wildlife Associations: bees
Great Plant Combinations:
Great Color Contrasts: burgundy, yellow
Great Color Partners: silver, blue, purple
This smoky blue indigo grows best in full sun with well-drained soil and is tolerant of sandy and clay situations. Rich organic soils and heavy fertilizing can make it floppy and growing it in lean and poor soils will produce a more compact plant. Once established it is drought tolerant. This is a very easy perennial with almost no health issues, but it is slow growing and resents being disturbed so provide with plenty of room in the garden.
Text and photos ©2025 Great Plant Picks/Elisabeth Carey Miller Garden except where otherwise noted
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, The Seattle Times, and Individual Donors
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden