Product Description
Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' PP27904 CPBR6256 (25) Bare Root Plants
DECADENCE® Series
Common Name: False Indigo
This newest addition to the Baptisia DECADENCE® series will stop you in your tracks with its intensely vibrant flower color. You’ll enjoy its vivid violet blue blossoms in late spring, around the same time as peonies and COLOR SPIRES® Salvia.
Because of its shorter stature, you will easily find room to fit this perennial in your flower garden. Seed pods begin to develop immediately after the plant is finished flowering, deepening in color and persisting into fall.
Baptisia is easy to grow and will thrive with little maintenance. There are many potential applications in the landscape including meadow plantings, as a backdrop in borders, or as a specimen. Plants are very long-lived once established.
The roots of the DECADENCE® series run deep. What started as a fun botanizing trip in the lower Midwest with a fellow horticultarist blossomed into a complex hybridizing project for breeder Hans Hansen. Hans has made countless crosses with the many native Baptisia species he has collected across Texas and Oklahoma. These crosses have resulted in an array of seedlings with unique flower colors and plant habits. Only the very best have made it into the new DECADENCE® Series, which includes varieties selected for their desirable flower colors and shorter, more compact habit.
Baptisia grows best in full sun, though it tolerates light shade. If grown in too much shade, plants may require staking. Baptisia is easily grown in poor to average soil that is well-drained. Once established, it is moderately drought tolerant because of its tough, deep taproot. This perennial native may take a couple of seasons to become established, but is very long-lived once mature. Avoid disturbing established clumps.
Height: 2.5-3.0 Feet
Spread: 2.5-3.0 Feet
Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Purple-blue shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) - Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Low to Average Water Needs
Poor to Average Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Late Spring - Early Summer
Attracts Butterflies
Bee Friendly
Deer Resistant
Seasonal Interest: Dried Seed Heads
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Cut Flower, Cut Foliage, Dried Flower, Drought Tolerant, Easy To Grow, Salt Tolerant, Specimen, Focal Point
A Dazzling Addition to Your Garden
Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' is a captivating perennial that brings vibrant color and unique texture to any garden. This variety of false indigo is part of the Decadence Series, known for its compact size and stunning floral displays. With its striking violet-blue flowers and attractive foliage, 'Sparkling Sapphires' is a favorite among gardeners and a welcome addition to any landscape.
This captivating Baptisia is a hybrid developed by Hans Hansen, a renowned plant breeder. The Decadence Series arose from Hansen's extensive work hybridizing native Baptisia species collected during a botanizing trip across the United States with fellow horticulturist, Tony Avent. Driven by a vision for Baptisia with greater diversity in flower colors, bloom times, and plant habits, Hansen embarked on a 13-year journey of meticulous crossing and seedling selection. 'Sparkling Sapphires', with its intensely vibrant violet-blue flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer, is a testament to his dedication and expertise. Interestingly, the shade of the blooms can vary depending on the light conditions, adding another layer of visual interest to this remarkable plant.
It is worth noting that 'Sparkling Sapphires' blooms around the same time as peonies and COLOR SPIRES® Salvia, making it a valuable asset for gardeners seeking to create a cohesive and dynamic floral display. Another unique feature of this cultivar is that its charcoal-hued seed pods develop earlier than other Baptisia varieties, extending the visual appeal of the plant.
The plant's common name, false indigo, stems from its historical use as a substitute dye for true indigo. Native Americans utilized the native Baptisia australis to produce a blue dye.
- Height 30-36 inches
- Spread 30-36 inches
- Flower Color Violet-blue
- Bloom Time Late spring to early summer
- Foliage Color Blue-green
- Hardiness Zones 4-9
Ideal Growing Conditions Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. While it can tolerate some shade, it may become leggy and require staking. This plant is adaptable to various soil types, including loam, sand, and clay.
- Sunlight Requirements For optimal growth and flowering, 'Sparkling Sapphires' needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate some shade, especially in hotter climates, full sun ensures the plant remains compact and produces abundant flowers.
- Soil Type This Baptisia prefers well-drained soil. While it can tolerate poor soil fertility, amending the soil with organic matter can improve drainage and fertility.
- Watering Needs Once established, 'Sparkling Sapphires' is drought-tolerant due to its deep taproot. This resilience makes it a suitable choice for gardens that experience occasional dry periods. However, regular watering is essential during the first year to help the plant establish a strong root system. Water deeply every couple of weeks, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.
- Hardiness Zones Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' is hardy in USDA zones 4-9. This means it can withstand winter temperatures as low as -30°F.
Pests and Diseases
Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' is generally a hardy plant. Deer and rabbits rarely bother it, and it is resistant to most common garden pests. However, it is important to note that butterfly larvae may feed on the foliage, although the plant usually recovers without lasting damage. Fungal diseases such as leaf spot, powdery mildew, or rust can occur if the plant is crowded or grown in damp conditions. To prevent these diseases, ensure proper spacing and avoid overwatering.
Propagation
Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' can be propagated through division or by seed. Dividing young plants in spring is the most common method. However, dividing mature plants can be challenging due to their deep taproots.
Maintenance and Care
This Baptisia requires minimal maintenance. It does not require deadheading and rarely reblooms if deadheaded. Trimming the foliage after bloom can help maintain a rounded plant appearance, but you will miss the attractive seed pods.
Landscape Uses
Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' is a versatile plant with various landscape applications. It looks stunning in beds and borders, cottage gardens, prairies or meadows, and native plant gardens. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens, and it can be used as a specimen plant or in small groups. Additionally, 'Sparkling Sapphires' serves as a host plant for several butterfly species, including the Wild Indigo Duskywing, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Clouded Sulphur, and Orange Sulphur. By incorporating this plant into your garden, you can contribute to the support of local butterfly populations and enhance the biodiversity of your landscape.
Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' is a dazzling addition to any garden, especially urban landscapes where its hardiness and adaptability shine. Its vibrant violet-blue flowers, attractive foliage, and low-maintenance nature make it a favorite among gardeners. This remarkable plant thrives in a variety of conditions and requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice for busy gardeners. It does not need fertilizer or deadheading and rarely needs dividing. Whether used as a specimen plant, in borders, or as part of a native plant garden, 'Sparkling Sapphires' is sure to bring beauty and enjoyment for years to come. Consider adding this captivating perennial to your garden and experience the magic of its sparkling sapphire blooms.
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!
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AMAZING SIZE
So often when you order bareroot plants they are so small and have obviously been divided within an inch of their lives. This is not the case with these, or any BR plants I have ordered from Blooming' Designs. They were huge with 8-10 buds ready to go on each. While it did involve having to dig a little more to prepare the space for them, that is a good problem to have as they are robust, healthy and substantial. Thank you for the quality plants!
