Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) brings cheery color to the garden with its bright yellow, pea-like blooms perched on upright stems above a mound of clover-like foliage. Its tidy, shrubby form stays relatively compact at about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, offering a handsome backdrop for neighboring perennials. After flowering, small, inflated seed pods develop and eventually turn black, adding extra late-season appeal. This tough legume tolerates heat, drought, and poor soil, making it a smart, low-maintenance addition to borders, cottage gardens, and wildflower meadows. Its deep taproot also helps prevent soil erosion while hosting beneficial insects like native pollinators and duskywing butterflies.
Beyond its ornamental value, Yellow Wild Indigo hails from North America and fits well into naturalized plantings or pollinator-friendly beds. Deer typically steer clear, and once established, this plant proves exceptionally hardy in challenging conditions. In mass plantings, it forms a bold, golden display every spring, while individual specimens serve as focal points or complementary accents in any sunlit space. Its presence in a landscape signals ecological diversity and healthy soil, especially since it fixes nitrogen in conjunction with its rhizobia partners.
Yellow Wild Indigo Care
Plant Yellow Wild Indigo in full sun or light shade, ensuring at least four to six hours of daily sunlight. It adapts to sandy or loamy soils, preferring well-drained conditions; amend heavy clay to improve aeration if needed. Water regularly during the first growing season to encourage root development, then reduce watering as the plant matures and becomes more drought tolerant. Fertilizer is rarely necessary—an occasional top-dressing of compost in spring is sufficient. Leaving some seed pods on the plant allows for a bit of self-seeding and natural habitat benefits.
To maintain a neat appearance, consider lightly trimming the stems after flowering, though this removes the ornamental seed pods. In containers, check watering needs more frequently and use a well-draining potting mix. As winter approaches, perennials can be cut back to clean up the garden, or left standing for seeds and habitat. If the plant fails to bloom, evaluate sunlight or soil drainage, as these are key to robust flowering.
Yellow Wild Indigo Spacing
Allow about 2 to 3 feet between each Yellow Wild Indigo for mass plantings to give the clumps room to expand. For single-row or mixed perennial beds, the same spacing ensures healthy airflow. If growing in containers, select a pot at least 12 to 14 inches wide and deep, providing ample room for the long taproot and allowing the plant to reach its full potential.
- SKU:
- 1231020826-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations