Product Description
Baptisia 'Golden Anniversary' PPAF (25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: False Indigo
A Golden Celebration in Your Garden
Baptisia 'Golden Anniversary', commonly known as False Indigo, is a remarkable perennial that offers a unique combination of vibrant indigo blue flowers and striking golden yellow foliage. This cultivar represents a true color breakthrough, being the first commercially available Baptisia to combine these desirable traits. Its rounded, bushy habit, sturdy stems, and long-lived nature make it a valuable addition to any garden.
What Makes 'Golden Anniversary' Special? 'Golden Anniversary' stands out for several key reasons:
- Unique Color Combination: The pairing of deep indigo blue flowers with golden yellow foliage is a truly distinctive feature that sets this Baptisia apart. This unexpected color combination creates a stunning visual contrast and adds a touch of drama to the garden.
- Golden Foliage: The bright yellow foliage provides interest throughout the growing season, even when the plant is not in bloom. It brightens up the landscape and acts as a beautiful backdrop for other plants.
- Long Bloom Time: While the main flowering period occurs in late spring to early summer (not late summer to early fall as initially stated), the blooms are profuse and long-lasting, providing a vibrant display for several weeks.
- Easy Care and Longevity: Baptisia is known for its low maintenance requirements and exceptional longevity. Once established, 'Golden Anniversary' requires minimal care and can thrive for many years, making it a reliable and rewarding addition to the garden.
- Versatile Landscape Use: 'Golden Anniversary' can be used in a variety of landscape settings, including meadow plantings, borders, as a backdrop for other plants, or as a striking specimen plant.
Detailed Description: 'Golden Anniversary' forms a rounded, ball-shaped mound of ovate, golden yellow leaves. In late spring to early summer, tall flower spikes emerge from just above the foliage, adorned with numerous indigo blue, pea-like flowers. After the blooms fade, attractive seed pods develop, adding further interest to the plant. These seed pods can be left on the plant for winter interest or used in dried flower arrangements.
Native Habitat (and Its Influence on Cultivation): Baptisia is native to North America, particularly the eastern and central United States. This native origin makes it well-adapted to a range of growing conditions in North American gardens. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, reflecting its adaptation to open woodlands and prairies.
Landscaping Design Tips:
- Focal Point: 'Golden Anniversary' makes an excellent focal point in the garden, thanks to its unique color combination and striking form.
- Border Plant: Use 'Golden Anniversary' as a backdrop in borders to add height, color, and texture. Its golden foliage provides a beautiful contrast to other flowering plants.
- Meadow Planting: Incorporate 'Golden Anniversary' into meadow plantings to add a splash of color and attract pollinators.
- Mixed Borders: Combine 'Golden Anniversary' with other perennials and grasses to create a dynamic and visually appealing border. Consider companion plants with contrasting colors, such as purple or red flowers, to accentuate the golden foliage and blue blooms.
- Specimen Plant: Plant 'Golden Anniversary' as a specimen plant to showcase its unique beauty.
Planting and Care:
- Planting Time: The best time to plant Baptisia 'Golden Anniversary' is in the spring or fall.
- Location: Choose a location that receives full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun). While it can tolerate some shade, full sun promotes the best foliage color and flowering.
- Soil: 'Golden Anniversary' prefers well-drained soil but can tolerate poor soil conditions. It is also drought-tolerant once established.
- Watering: Water regularly during the first year to establish a strong root system. Once established, 'Golden Anniversary' requires minimal watering, except during prolonged dry periods.
- Fertilizing: Fertilizing is generally not necessary for Baptisia. In fact, excessive fertilization can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowering.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
- Pruning: Cut back the stems to the ground in late fall or early spring.
- Pest and Disease Control: Baptisia is relatively pest and disease resistant. However, keep an eye out for common garden pests and treat any issues promptly.
Other Insights for Gardeners:
- Attracts Pollinators: 'Golden Anniversary' attracts butterflies and bees, making it a valuable addition to a pollinator-friendly garden.
- Deer Resistant: Baptisia is generally considered to be deer resistant.
- Dried Seed Heads: The seed pods of 'Golden Anniversary' are attractive and can be used in dried flower arrangements.
- Salt Tolerant: Baptisia is relatively salt tolerant, making it suitable for coastal gardens.
- Long-Lived: 'Golden Anniversary' is a long-lived perennial that will provide years of enjoyment in the garden.
Baptisia 'Golden Anniversary' is a truly exceptional perennial that offers a unique combination of beauty, hardiness, and versatility. Its golden foliage, indigo blue flowers, and easy-care nature make it a valuable addition to any garden. With its long-lived nature and adaptability to various growing conditions, 'Golden Anniversary' is sure to become a cherished part of your landscape for years to come.
- Height: 0-36.0 Inches
- Spread: 0-36.0 Inches
- Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8,9
- Flower Color: Blue shades
- Foliage Color: Yellow shades
- Sunlight: Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun)Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
- Water Requirements: Low Water Needs - Average Water Needs
- Soil Quality: Poor Soil Quality - Average Soil Quality
- Soil Chemistry: Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0)Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
- Bloomtime: Late Summer - Early Fall
- Attracts Wings: Attracts Butterflies Bee Friendly
- Critter Resistant: Deer Resistant
- Seasonal Interest: Dried Seed Heads
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Garden Style: Cottage, Eclectic, Prairie, Rain Garden
Border Plant, Cut Flower, Cut Foliage, Dried Flower, Drought Tolerant, Easy To Grow, Salt Tolerant, Specimen, Focal Point, Native to North America
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
