Golden Anniversary False Indigo

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 4 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Golden Anniversary False Indigo rewrites the color rules for baptisia. It is the first commercially available selection to pair indigo blue flower spikes with glowing golden-yellow foliage, and the contrast is striking from the moment growth begins. The plant forms a rounded, shrub-like mound 30–36 inches tall and wide, holding its bright foliage color all season instead of fading to green. When the deep blue blooms rise just above the canopy in early summer, the effect is crisp and graphic. 

A North American native at heart, baptisia is known for its longevity and toughness. Once established, its deep taproot allows it to handle drought and lean soils with ease. Pollinators work the pea-shaped flowers, and dark seed pods add texture into fall if left in place. Deer rarely browse Baptisia ‘Golden Anniversary’, and the plant develops a fuller, almost shrub-like presence as it matures. It may take a season or two to settle in, but the payoff is decades of performance.

Golden Anniversary False Indigo Care

Plant Golden Anniversary in full sun for the brightest foliage color and strongest stems, although light afternoon shade is tolerated in hot climates. Choose well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Avoid heavy, waterlogged ground, as baptisia resents wet roots. Water consistently during the first growing season to establish the root system, then reduce irrigation; mature plants require only occasional deep watering during extended drought. Fertilizer is rarely needed, but a light application of a balanced granular feed in early spring can support young plants in poor soil.

Do not disturb established clumps. Cut stems back to the base in late winter before new shoots emerge. Leave spent flower spikes in place if you enjoy the ornamental pods, or remove them after bloom to tidy the plant’s outline.

Golden Anniversary False Indigo Spacing

Space plants 30–36 inches apart in landscape borders or meadow-style plantings to allow the rounded form to develop fully. In larger decorative containers (>20"), use one plant as a bold centerpiece surrounded by lower companions.

We like using Golden Anniversary False Indigo as a focal point where most perennials would simply blend in. In sunny perennial beds, combine with amsonia and ornamental grasses for layered texture, or set it against a backdrop of Shasta daisies and phlox for strong seasonal contrast.

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